Kokopo court jails youths on drug-related offences

FOUR youths were recently given prison sentences by the Kokopo District Court for drug-related offences in East New Britain.
Gideon Bernard, 31, from Arabam village in Pomio district, was sentenced to 18 months for possession of dangerous drugs.
The others were Andrew Byron, 21, from Ganai village in Kokopo district, James Sanga, 22, also from Ganai and Artee Kalaman, from Musau Island in New Ireland, who were each sentenced to six years imprisonment. The trio serving six years were convicted on two charges, cultivating marijuana and being in possession of offensive weapons.
Acting provincial police commander Senior Inspector Joseph Tabali said the youths were apprehended following a police raid two months ago.
Tabali has appealed to youths in the rural communities to cultivate cash crops to earn money rather than getting involved in illegal activities to get fast cash.