Africans’ detained for illegal entry: Police

Two West Africans aided by Indonesian human smugglers allegedly crossed illegally into PNG through a remote bush track in the North Fly district of Western province, police said.
North Fly police commander Supt Joseph Puri told The National this.
Both are 24 years old  from Ivory Coast and crossed the PNG-Indonesian border  last Friday from Bupul town in West Papua into the remote Bosset village, Puri said.
“They were on their way to Kiunga in a dinghy when we were tipped off about their movement. Police was stationed at Kiunga and as soon as they arrived they were taken straight to the station.
“We are now interviewing them to find out more about the intention of their travel. We don’t know if they want to cross into PNG and reside here or were trying to cross into Australia through Western.”
Puri said there were other cases of human smuggling into Indonesia to facilitate citizens from third-world nations (mainly African, Middle East and Asia) to pass through PNG to Australia.
“In May, we apprehended three Pakistanis in Daru who were attempting to crossover by dinghy to Saibai Island in the Torres Strait and  in the far north Queensland.
“We had detained them with their local guide.”
Meanwhile, a senior government intelligence officer said the Government had to think seriously about addressing security along the PNG-Indonesian border given the preparation for  the 2018 Asia Pacific Economical Corporation (Apec) meeting.