Drug was cocaine, say police

PRELIMINARY tests carried out in Australia on a 600kg haul of drugs seized in Port Moresby in July have confirmed it as cocaine and a report will be furnished to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary at the end of the month.
Deputy commissioner of police operations, Donald Yamasombi, confirmed the tests were still ongoing.
However, he said the five accused of facilitating the movement of the cocaine in the country would be facing the Waigani Committal Court on Oct 15 for the charge of money laundering.
Last month, Yamasombi said the information on the analysis would come back through the mutual legal assistance framework via the Department of Justice and Attorney-General and then to the police.
“The drugs sent to Australia were not because we wanted to send it to Australia,” he said.
“It’s done on a mutual legal assistance framework.
“We don’t have the capabilities to analyse anything in PNG (so) why should we keep it here?
“It was sent there so that proper forensic analysis could be done and will be used as evidence in court.
“We are working in collaboration with the legal framework in the country to ensure these drugs, including the persons implicated in smuggling it and dealing with it are prosecuted according to law.”
According to details of the mutual legal assistance framework, it is a request under the mutual assistance in criminal matters Act 2005.
Through this Act a foreign country can request for materials lawfully obtained by the RPNGC and is in its possession.