Foot patrol proves fruitful

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
A SLIP by a man led to the recovery of six bags of marijuana worth about K155,000 at Six Mile in Port Moresby yesterday.
Six policemen were on foot patrol in the area when they saw a man drop a bag along Saraga Street, exposing a handful of marijuana.
On questioning, the man led the police to a house at Saraga settlement where they recovered the six bags.
NCD sector commander senior Insp Ben Turi said the man had just arrived by plane from Tapini in the Goilala district in Central province.
“He said he had brought the marijuana to the city to sell to raise money for his school fees. He claimed he was a student in Goilala,” he said.
Insp Turi said many police officers were now on foot patrol as many of their vehicles had broken down, “and it is proving to be effective in apprehending criminals”.
“In the past, we raided and confiscated marijuana from tip-offs because we rely on informers,” he said.
“This is the first time that we have seized marijuana from our own efforts by conducting foot patrols.”
He added that foot patrols were also part of National Capital District police commander Fred Yakasa’s new strategy to combat crime.
Policemen have also been instructed to question people seen idling in public places.