Drug bust

By REBECCA KUKU
POLICE in the National Capital District confiscated 120kg of methamphetamine worth K35.6 million in an operation yesterday morning.
Police commissioner David Manning said the methamphetamine was picked up on the trail after an attempt was made to send some to Australia through a postal service.
“The methamphetamine is worth AD$15 million (about K35.6 million) was seized along with four people — two nationals and two Malaysians.
“Police believe that this is the work of a well organised, well-resourced syndicate and involves both locals and Asians.”
Manning could not release more information on the operation as investigations were ongoing but believes the methamphetamine was not ‘cooked’ in the nation’s capital but was brought in from outside.
“The methamphetamine will be sent to Australia for testing and confirmation.”
Manning acknowledged Deputy Police Commissioner-Special Operations Donald Yamasombie, the Trans-National Crime Unite and all those who worked together to make the bust.
“I’m proud to say that the bust was made by local police with the support of other agencies and that shows the commitment we have in improving policing in the country.”
“We have new laws that were recently passed (2021), and we will use those laws (controlled substance bill 2021) to prosecute the offenders, once investigations are completed,” he said.
The country’s biggest drug bust was in 2020 when an Australian pilot tried to transport 611.1kg of cocaine worth A$141,164,100 (K340 million) from Central to Australia.
He has been jailed 18 years by the National Court in Waigani.
Meanwhile, Manning said police would be receiving more funding in this year’s budget and he has plans to increase the manpower with 2,000 recruits.
“The recruitment drive will begin next March and by 2025, we hope to have 2,000 more manpower in the constabulary,” he said.