6kg of marijuana seized in drug bust

SIX kilograms of marijuana intended for Port Moresby’s street markets was confiscated by police from five suspects along the Hiritano Highway last Friday night.
A joint NCD/Central police and Correctional Services team, who were part of Operation painim kalabus man, told The National on Saturday that they picked up the five men at the Tapini turnoff along the highway at around 9pm.
The suspects are from Goilala and were waiting to get a lift into the city when they flagged down the vehicle, not knowing it was an unmarked police vehicle.
Police said yesterday that they got a tip-off about the suspects earlier that evening at Agevairu station a few kilometres before the Goilala turnoff.
The suspects’ case is expected to be heard at the Boroko District Court today and they could be facing likely jail terms of up to five years.
Police said this amount of drugs could fetch around K70,000 on the streets of Port Moresby.
One of the CID officers, who picked up the men along the highway and wished to remain anonymous, said two of the men were adults and, when questioned by police, said they were desperate to make money for their children’s school fees.
They said the market in Port Moresby was good and cultivating and selling huge amounts of marijuana could fetch a lot of money.
Members of the combined forces Operation Painim kalabus man are currently patrolling the Hiritano Highway from Malalaua to Port Moresby.