Police nab 20 during marijuana farm raid

 By ZACHERY PER

A POLICE dawn raid on Friday resulted in uprooting of more than 5000 marijuana plants and arrest of at least 20 growers in the Upper Asaro area of Daulo district in Eastern Highlands.

A combined police team from the Goroka police station led by officer in charge of the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) Detective Senior Inspector Mazuc Rubiang raided Kuka village, a few kilometres north of the Asaro government station.

Rubiang said they were starting in the Asaro area and would continue the raid to remove marijuana in other districts. 

Marijuana grown in Kuka village is sometimes packed into kaukau bags and sent to Port Moresby via Lae sea port, one of the growers said.

A pregnant mother and a mother of five children were among the suspects apprehended by police.

Peter Yamarufa, a reserve police constable based in Asaro rural police station, was one of the suspects. 

Rubiang ordered Asaro rural police station Commander Gabriel Samor to bring the suspect to Goroka police station.

Among the suspects  charged under section 42 (2) of the Dangerous Drug Act (DDA) were Jonah James, Max Kepsy, Kipsy Aku, Benene David Bruce Yauwo, Steven Richard, John Rasta, Soti Joseph, Jack Metta, Joseph Karo, Joseph Mondu, Elizabeth Henry, James Dereke, Wanpis Bogia, Ties Kila, Peter Lua, John Kupa, and Kila Borome.