Programme used to smuggle drugs: Basil

PEOPLE trying to use the Government’s freight subsidy programme to smuggle illegal items such as drugs from Lae to Port Moresby have been warned not to do it. Commerce and Trade Minister Sam Basil claimed that some farmers in Lae had been caught trying to smuggle drugs through the programme. “We are making sure that we provide an opportunity for farmers to bring their produce and send them (to Port Moresby),” he said.“For those who want to misuse the trust that the Government has given them, the law will deal with you accordingly. “But we must understand that the shipping of vegetables is not done only because of this freight subsidy, it’s a continuous business where everyone is involved.
“People using shipments to smuggle illegal items is a daily challenge that everybody knows about. Meanwhile, Basil said the country was still experiencing the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on businesses and small growers. He said many had lost their jobs and were finding it hard to earn a living. “In the long-term, the Government should continue supporting the freight subsidy programme to help our farmers,” he said.