Marape ‘said no to Australia’ to release pilot, cocaine

The National National

PRIME Minister James Marape says neither the cocaine haul nor accused pilot David Cutmore will be sent to Australia before PNG deals with the case.
He told Parliament yesterday that the Government was very serious in prosecuting those involved in the drug transportation and that he (Marape) had “personally said no to Australia” who asked to have Cutmore repatriated back to Australia.
Marape earlier suggested that the K160 millioin worth of cocaine from the bust near Port Moresby recently would be sent to Australia for safe-keeping.
“It will not be moved without proper consultation between Australia and PNG,” he said.
“Our instructions are that the pilot is processed by our laws and the drug is in dual custody with Australian and PNG authorities.
Meanwhile Marape said drug amendments will be presented in Parliament in November for tougher penalties against offenders.
He said the amendments would provide “correct penalties for those who handle or peddle drugs in PNG” and that deputy prime minister (Davis Steven) was working on the penalties.

3 comments

  • Quite right Marape. Keep them here as long as we can to squeeze as many bribes as we can from them and then “accidentally” let them escape. And it will take months before all the cops get through K160 worth of cocaine.

  • Good on the Prime Minister to keep the Aussies waiting. Let them stay here so we can squeeze them for as much bribe money as possible before “accidentallly” letting them escape. And, it will take months for our cops to get their way through K160 million dollars worth of cocaine.

  • I am not quite sure how it would benefit us by prosecuting thugs in PNG.
    These thugs were trying to take the drug to Australia for the lucrative drug market there.
    Send them to Australia and be prosecuted there.
    Why should we spend our limited resource on trying to convict them.

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