Police seize marijuana after raiding drug-smuggling ring

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Manus police have busted a drug-smuggling ring operating at Lorengau Market.
Provincial police commander David Yapu said yesterday a large quantity of marijuana was confiscated at the market last Saturday.
It was found in the possession of Boas Thomas Lau, 30, from Hahai village on Pak Island, Rapatona LLG.
Lau has been arrested and charged.
Yapu said Mobile Squad 18 from Tomaringa Police Barracks in East New Britain, apart from deployment duties with the refugees on Manus, were also assisting local police.
He said the squad were tipped of a drug syndicate operating between Manus and Madang and apprehended Lau, who was believed to be the ring leader, at the main market.
Yapu said Lau admitted to buying marijuana in Madang and transporting it by boat to Manus.
He said the marijuana was estimated to cost up to K10,000.
Yapu urged the courts to impose severe penalties on those bringing marijuana into the Manus islands.
He said he was concerned about this drug trade into Manus and said police would step up water surveillance between Manus and Wewak, Madang and Kavieng.
Yapu said police alone could not address the prevalent drug problem and appealed for assistance from boat operators and the community.
He thanked mobile squad members for the arrest and encouraged them to keep up the good work. Yapu appealed to Manus youths to keep away from drugs and focus on activities that would benefit them and help them to become good citizens.