Rural police prepare for gang

Police in Northern have beefed up operations in the Tufi area following intelligence reports of criminals targeting the Tufi Dive Resort.
Station commander of the Rural Police Station in Tufi Benson Rataba said they had beefed up manpower and fire power.
They are taking the action after intelligence reports received that Tommy Baker with his gang are planning a hit on the Dive Resort.
“The report was real that Baker and his gang were planning to invade Tufi so we have beefed up operations.
“The message has been going out. I believe they have heard that police are now on the ground in Tufi, all beefed and ready for anything that comes up in relation to sea piracy or any criminal activities at the Dive resort or the dive shop at the waterfront,” Rataba said.
He said water police in Popondetta lacked logistical support on boats to support them to travel the Milne Bay, Northern and Morobe borders.
“We are aware that there are drugs being brought into the province in big quantities’ but we are handicapped. We cannot stop them and try to stop boats to search them because we don’t have enough manpower support,” he said.
Rataba said Provincial Police Commander Michael Welly visited Tufi and was informed of the situation but he cannot release members because of no funds.
“We need to buy fuel to hire dinghies we don’t have boats for police to travel to Morobe and Milne Bay borders. We need police post at Kewansasap on the border of Milne Bay and Northern and the manpower should go as far as 10.
“Oro Bay to Ioma and Kira we should have police post to address sea piracy. I am the only one regular member, I need manpower and fire power support with logistics.”