Eight arrested for breaching SOE orders

EIGHT people transporting betel nut from Madang to Manus have been arrested and charged by the police in Manus for breaching the state of emergency orders.
Manus police commander Chief Insp David Yapu said five of them, who were arrested yesterday, also had marijuana and were charged with being in possession of dangerous drugs as well.
He said the other three were arrested and charged on Sunday. They had 31 bags of betel nut on their boat and had come from Madang.
He said they were all charged for breaching SOE orders and their boats were also taken to the police station and impounded.
Yabu said on Sunday, the police team on sea surveillance for the Covid-19 operations acted on information and intercepted a boat near Baluan Island in Balopa local level government carrying three men and loaded with 31 bags of betel nut.
He said the boat was escorted to Lorengau police station and the three suspects were charged for breaching SOE orders and were detained in the cells.
Their boat and the engine was also impounded.
Yabu said the police sea surveillance team intercepted another boat yesterday from Madang at Rambujo Island.