Foreigners arrested as Jasgo swoops on shops to enforce trading rules in Highlands

THE joint agency spot-check operation (Jasco) in Eastern Highlands has paid off with the arrest of 22 foreigners, and the confiscation and destruction of more than 4700 prohibited items.
Prohibited items were burnt at the Kamaliki rubbish dump outside Goroka town with the help of police, members of Jasco and local leader Kansol Kosa on Monday.
Censorship acting manager, enforcement and compliance, Poveta Posa confirmed the items confiscated from the shops operated by foreigners included 3850 lighters with partial nude photos on them, 191 CDs without titles, 84 unidentified tablets, 156 spray containers containing partial nude photos, 171 multiple DVDs and 29 boxes (18 pieces per box) of artimether and lumefantrine medicines.
Posa said they destroyed the items.
Communication officer with the Immigration and Citizenship Quinton Alomo said nine state agencies combined to check compliance issues in the operation.
Alomo said the State agencies involved in Jasco ensured that businesses operated according cto the law.
The agencies are Immigration/Citizenships, Internal Revenue Commission (IRC), Independent Consumer Competition Commission (ICCC), Labour and Industrial Relations, Censorship Board, Customs office, Bank of PNG (BPNG), Police and Investment Promotion Authority (IPA).
Alomo thanked Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu for supporting the operation with K50,000.
Terry Appolos, from the police, confirmed that out of the 22 foreigners arrested, 16 were found guilty and convicted by the Goroka District Court, four pleaded not guilty and will have their cases heard this week.
Two more were arrested on Monday.