|
By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
CERTAIN police officers have been implicated in drug and gun-smuggling
activities in Western province and will be investigated by a senior
officer from Port Moresby.
The investigator was due to arrive in Daru yesterday.
Southern region police chief Asst Comm Jim Wan said pending the
investigations, the officers suspected to be involved would be placed on
suspension.
He said in a statement from Daru yesterday the officers were implicated
by anti-narcotics detectives sent up from Port Moresby last month to
investigate a surge of criminal activities in the province.
“Since their arrival, they had charged three Highlands women, a man from
Western province and a man from Western Highlands,” he said.
“They were found guilty by the National Court in Port Moresby and jailed
for two years each.”
Mr Wan said they had also recovered 8kg of marijuana, a shotgun and
several rounds of ammunition.
“This is only the tip of the iceberg of what was happening in the
province,” Mr Wan said.
“The recent arrest and conviction added credibility to suspicions police
have had over the years that Daru was an entry point for illegal
firearms and an exit point for drugs, especially marijuana.
“The detectives believe that the drugs brought in from the Highlands
were destined for markets across the border in Australia or Indonesia to
be traded for guns and ammunition.”
Mr Wan said the increase in crime was also due to the closure of the
Daru police cells, prison and court house.
“The lax security in the province could attract transnational criminals
from across the border.
“It is therefore absolutely crucial for the relevant authorities to fix
infrastructure and restore the presence of law enforcement officers in
this part of the country.”
Mr Wan said the smuggling of arms into the country was a national
security and sovereignty issue.
“The recent discovery of ammunition-manufacturing equipment in the home
of a foreigner in the NCD must ring alarm bells for all of us.”
“I have initiated talks with relevant Government authorities and
stakeholders in an attempt to develop long-term strategies to address
this matter.”
 
|
