Alleged smuggler arrested

By SYLVESTER WEMURU
A 40-YEAR old man from Oksapmin, West Sepik, was arrested and charged by the police in Telefomin, Western, yesterday for trying to smuggle marijuana to Tabubil.
Telefomin Police Station commander Snr Const Prais Kaiyus said the man identified as Joel Nangbal of Tekap village in Oksapmin was passing through Telefomin station and up to a check point at Atemkiakim where he was caught by auxiliary policemen with the help of local youths.
He said the man was detained at the Telefomin Police Station and would be taken to court in Vanimo.
Snr Const Kaiyus said people taking illegal items like drugs were avoiding check points by taking other routes after finding out police were conducting checks at certain locations.
He said he suspected that there were others taking drugs and other items into Western as had been done in the past.
Snr Const Kaiyus said drug smuggling to Tabubil and to the Indonesian border was an ongoing problem for law enforcement in the Telefomin area.
He said the marijuana that the man had in his possession had an estimated street value of K10,000.
Snr Const Kaiyus said he and his officers were carrying out awareness on Covid-19 to the people of the district and commended local youths for volunteering to help them in their other duties such as monitoring the movement of people coming into the district.