Man arrested with illegal possession of marijuana

 By PETER ESOP WARI

A MAN was caught carrying 20kg of marijuana at the Kagamuga Airport in Mt Hagen last Friday.

He has been charged with the illegal possession of drugs and will appear in court soon. 

The dried leaves were neatly packed and bound for Port Moresby.

Security guards at the airport became suspicious after the man told them that he was carrying pork for his son who would be graduating at the Bomana Police College this week.

The marijuana was packed in two bags covered by vegetables and bush ferns.

A police spokesman said Commex Security Service guards, who provided security for Airlines PNG, did not arrest the man immediately but waited for him to board the plane.

“The suspect thought everything was fine and quickly walked into the plane. Police and guards nabbed him,” the spokesman said.

He said the man tried to run away but was arrested by the guards and taken to the Mt Hagen police station to be charged.

“Drug-smuggling is very high at the airport and guards and police are on alert and working together,” he said.

Two weeks ago, the same security firm confiscated 10kg of marijuana bound for Tabubil, Western. The suspect fled.

Seven arrests have been made so far this year on drug smuggling.