Drug trafficking via Gulf growing

By REBECCA KUKU
DRUG trafficking through the Gulf of Papua New Guinea is a major issue, says provincial police commander Chief Inspector Jeffery Lemb.
Lemb said there were a lot of cases and reports of people smuggling marijuana in the province, with more than 100kg of marijuana found in two police raids last week.
He said the first raid was done by Kerema police who acted on a tip-off, carried out a raid along the Lakekamu River where they found five 10kg bags of marijuana.
“The second raid was done by Malaloua police, also along the same river, and they found eight bags of marijuana,” he said.
“So in total, 130kgs of marijuana was found last week and is now in exhibits.”
Lemb, who was recently appointed the new provincial police commander, said the marijuana was being smuggled through Kantiba and down to the Lakekamu River.
“Drugs have spoilt the lives of many young Papua New Guineans, and we will look into this and start carrying out routine patrols in the hotspot areas identified as the smuggling route,” he said.
“I strongly believe that this marijuana drug is being brought down from the Highlands but without proper investigations done, I cannot really say.”
Lemb also said he received reports of gun smuggling through the province and would be looking into it.