Drug traffickers go high tech

Story and picture
by JUNIOR UKAHA
MARIJUANA traffic­kers are using mobile phones to evade police roadblocks when transporting the drug into the city, according to police.
National drug and vice squad director Joel Kapinias said in Port Moresby criminals were using technology to their advantage.
Det Chief Insp Kapinias made the comment after three men were caught with 18.3kg of dried marijuana worth tens of thousands of kina near Doa, on the Hiritano Highway, yesterday.   
“They send someone ahead and he calls back by mobile phone to inform them of any roadblocks,” he said.
“If there is roadblock they get off the vehicle and walk, otherwise they travel by vehicle to Moresby.”
Peter Allan, from Karip village, Tapini, Goilala; Kawa Owen, from Laiteta village, Tapini, Goilala, and Einsten Mina, 26, from Ihu, Gulf, were charged with one count each of being in possession of dangerous drugs.
Kapinias said police caught the trio after acting on information that a lot of marijuana had been smuggled into the city from the Goilala area.
“I sent my officers there to deter that practice, resulting in the arrests,” he said.
He said the suspects were travelling in a truck belonging to the Tapini Cooperative Society.
Kapinias said three others escaped at the roadblock.
“They (marijuana) are worth quite a lot of money on the streets of Port Moresby. But I don’t want to tell you the value because it will encourage more people to smuggle marijuana into the city in the hope of making fast money,’’ he said.
“Our laws on drugs need to be reviewed. Two years imprisonment for being in possession of marijuana is not enough.”