Drug smugglers locked up

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
FIVE Papua New Guineans are in Indonesian police custody after allegedly smuggling drug into Jayapura despite heavy security presence along the border, PNG Consular-General Geoffrey Wiri said.
Wiri said the five were caught while arrangement was still going on between the PNG and Indonesian governments to repatriate PNG prisoners from Indonesian jails under the special Indonesian Covid-19 state of emergency (SOE) regulations to release prisoners.
“Four men and one woman are now appearing before a district court in Jayapura on drug-smuggling charges,” he said.
“They were arrested after crossing the border after it was closed in January due to the Covid-19 state of emergency.
“On the other hand, 25 PNG prisoners serving various terms for illegal entry have been released from Abepura jail and I am hoping that they will be repatriated later this week.”
Wiri said 15 PNG citizens from Aitape, West Sepik, who had illegally crossed the border after the border was closed were stranded in Jayapura.
“These citizens include five children,” he said.
“We cannot help them unless they voluntarily surrender to the Indonesian immigration authorities and be arrested.
“Then, they can formally request for their deportation.
“Only after their process is complete, they will request for our assistance for deportation. We will prepare their documents of identity so they can legally return through the Wutung border post.”