Police confiscate drugs in operation

 POLICE confiscated drugs worth about K600,000 in East New Britain on Monday.

Provincial police commander Supt Anthony Wagambie said ENB police were stepping up their operation to eradicate the use and cultivation of marijuana.

Police on Monday went to Ganai village in Sulka along the south coast of the province to investigate reports of drug cultivation.

After days of surveillance, the police team comprising a unit from the mobile squad and the quick response unit from Rabaul raided the village.

The raid resulted in the confiscation of 2,300 mature marijuana plants grown on a piece of land less than a hectare. 

Wagambie said some of the marijuana plants were 3m high. 

He confirmed that a house was raided and a suspect arrested along with some dried and treated marijuana leaves ready for sale. 

Police found a homemade gun and four live shotgun cartridges. 

Wagambie said one of the prime suspects was on the run and the local community had been asked to assist in locating him.

“I have advocated a tough stance on cultivation and selling of marijuana and homebrew in this province,” he said. 

“We have to get to the source of this problem – the supplier and seller,” he said. 

“We can arrest as many people in possession of or using marijuana and homebrew. We also need to find the suppliers,” Wagambie said.