Gulf police start state of emergency operation

GULF police have started their state of emergency operation by setting up checkpoints to monitor people travelling in and out of the province.
Gulf police commander Chief Insp Mariah Johns said police set up a checkpoint on the first day of the 14-day lockdown while waiting for health and local level government officers to set themselves up at their respective locations they had identified.
She said the first cut-off point was set up at Apanaipi and the other at Simberigi and nearby identified surveillance areas.
Insp Johns said that while conducting awareness on the lockdown and the spread of coronavirus, they were also doing their policing duties by searching the vehicles and passengers who saw the opportunity to smuggle illegal items.
She said while police were conducting checks at Apanaipi,
the Gulf task force discovered some passengers smuggling marijuana.
She said marijuana parcels were discovered among betel nuts in bags that were being transported to Port Moresby in the early hours of Monday morning.
Insp Johns said police identified the men were from Eastern Highlands and they had walked all the way from there to Gulf and then were trying to travel to Port Moresby when nabbed.
She said the two men were in police custody now.
“I want all the people to listen and obey to the instructions that was issued by the government to remain in their respective homes,” she said.
“We must listen and obey simple instructions and remain in their home.”