Border drug trade a concern

 By GABRIEL FITO

POLICE believe there is a drug syndicate operating between Papua New Guinea and the Indonesian province of Jayapura.

West Sepik provincial police commander Supt Robert Gesa said hundreds of kilogrammes of marijuana were being traded by PNG citizens at Wutung village, the traditional border crossing.

The drugs could also be ferried across by boat from Vanimo to Jayapura. Police cannot do anything about it because they do not have any patrol boats. He said a police boat bought for the province was still sitting at the police headquarters in Konedobu, National Capital District.

He said marijuana was being traded for firearms, cash and pornographic material.

In an incident a fortnight ago, two Wutung men were shot at by Indonesian soldiers in their side of the border.

“One of them was shot and wounded but they both managed to cross over and we picked them up, took the injured to the hospital and detained them at the police station for questioning.

“No charges have been laid because of lack of evidence so police released both men. But we are keeping a close eye on this syndicate,” Gesa said.

He said the two men had crossed the border pretending to go to their garden at the back of the Batas Trade Centre. They sold an undisclosed amount of marijuana to three Indonesians.

“At the completion of the transaction, the two returned home but the three Indonesians were arrested by the military.

“They then ordered the three men to call their two PNG friends to meet them the next day at the border where they would give some gifts to them,” he said.

Gesa said the two men arrived and upon seeing the Indonesian soldiers, ran back towards the PNG side. One was shot and wounded.