Police confiscate marijuana in Manus

POLICE in Manus confiscated large quantity of marijuana from passengers on MV Momase arriving in Lorengau from Madang on Sunday.
According to Manus police commander Chief Inspt David Yapu, on the arrival at the main wharf at ward one in Lorengau, police checked the passengers bags and cargo and found the drug.
Yapu told The National yesterday that the marijuana was packed in travelling baggage belonging to two passengers.
Yapu said police arrested the passengers and they were now in police custody at the Lorengau police station.
The two suspects were arrested and charged with bringing illegal drugs (marijuana) into Manus.
“Those drugs came from one of the Highlands provinces, to Madang and came on the ship to Manus as one of the suspect arrested is from the Highlands,” Yapu said.
“We’re concerned because some of these passengers travelling in from other provinces by ship to Manus are bringing in drugs like marijuana as well as other illegal items.”
Yapu said that there was a market for these illegal items on Manus and said provincial authorities needed to have plans in place to address the issue, including monitoring ships and planes.
He said police would continue to do regular checks on ships and cargo entering Lorengau wharf.
Police identified the two suspects as Soman Peter 29, from Faientina of Henganofi in Eastern Highlands, and Bernard Ndrih, 26, from Derembat in Lorengau.