Police nab 15 smugglers

POLICE in Manus arrested and detained 15 men who tried to smuggle betel nuts into the province from Wewak, East Sepik, last week, says a senior police officer.
The men are awaiting their court date.
Manus police commander Chief Insp David Yapu said the group of smugglers were travelling in eight dinghies with betel nut bags when they were caught by officers from the mobile squad 10 based in Manus.
Chief Insp Yapu said the smugglers were charged under the state of emergency orders and their boats were impounded and the 103 bags of betel nuts were destroyed.
“We will try to improve our capabilities and capacities with limited resources at our disposal for sea surveillance,” he said.
Chief Insp Yapu said Manus Governor Charlie Benjamin and provincial administrator and provincial controller Oka Nungu had indicated that they would support police with logistics for their operations.
He also said the Covid-19 task force response team in Manus, including the Manus MP Job Pomat departed on two PNG Defence Force boats from Dreger to Aua Vulvulu and Nigoherm local level government in western part of the province on Saturday.
He said the team would conduct awareness on the Covid-19 pandemic and conduct sea surveillance on foreign yachts, illegal fishing boats and logging ships.
The islanders had raised concern on foreign yachts sighted near their islands and were worried about the spread of Covid-19.
He said it was an opportunity for the response team to visit the areas and conduct awareness and educate the people on Covid-19 due to isolation from Manus island.
Chief Insp Yapu said people were still transporting betel nuts into Manus and that needed to stop.