Customs, Immigration urged to lead probe

 By TAUNA GEORGE 
CUSTOMS and Immigration should lead the investigation of foreign vessels entering Papua New Guinea illegally, Milne Bay police commander Joseph Morehari says.
He said both organisations have been too slow in their response to verify travel documents and other security concerns involving foreign nationals on board foreign vessels detained in the province.
Morehari said this after an illegal fishing boat and 16 Vietnamese crews on board was detained last week near Ware Island in the Samarai-Murua electorate.
He said while police and the National Fisheries Authority officials were working together to check the legality of their presence in PNG, Customs and Immigration officials were not present.
“Both Customs and Immigration did not play their part. That’s exactly what happened when we arrested the captain and crew of another foreign fishing boat almost a month ago,” he said.
Morehari said agencies should be working together to protect the country’s borders against illegal foreign poachers and immigrants.