Illegal group exists

By DAPHNE WANI
A FOREIGNER, who admitted in court being part of a syndicate involved in the smuggling of illegal goods to the country, has refused to reveal to authorities the identities of his accomplices.
Ian Wang Yua Yan, 42, from Longtian in Fujian, China, appeared before Waigani District Court Magistrate Cosmas Bidar on Friday.
He admitted being part of an illegal network involved in the smuggling of undeclared goods contravening the PNG Customs Act.
Their illegal activities came to light when PNG Customs Services officers discovered about K7.3 million worth of illegal cigarettes at its container examination facility at Motukea late last year.
Chief Commissioner Ray Paul, pictured, said then it was the latest case of contraband goods brought into the country by mostly foreigners, although some locals were involved as partners.
Yua Yan pleaded guilty to illegal smuggling.
He admitted smuggling 121 cartons of cigarettes which were stored in a building along Kennedy Estate at Erima in Port Moresby.
Yan also admitted smuggling into the country other illegal items such as guns, ammunitions, pornographic material and drugs.
He also admitted bringing in duplicate documents such as blank bank savings cards, driving licences, work permits, passports and duplicated motor vehicle registration papers bearing duplicated model numbers.
Police prosecutor Chief Sergeant Eafeari Pirika requested Bidar for an order to have the cartons of cigarettes and other seized items surrendered to the court.
Police told the court that Yan had revealed during questioning that he was one of the agents involved in the smuggling of the prohibited items.
But he refused to cooperate with the police and PNG Customs officers when asked for information on the other members of the syndicate.
Yan was arrested by a joint police and PNG Customs operation on Jan 27.
He is on a K5000 bail and will return to court on Friday for sentencing.