Salamaua cleans up village after hike in law, order issues

A WARD council committee in Morobe’s Salamaua local level government area has started operation codenamed stretim sindaun long ples to rid their villages of marijuana.
Ward 17 councillor Mathias Geoctau said following an increase in law and order issues, the committee initiated this programme.
It is aimed at conducting investigations, awareness and penalising offenders.
“This operation will see anyone growing, selling and smoking marijuana, including homebrew in the three villages of Wakop, Buasi and Bumatu, in ward 17 be dealt with,” he said.
The first operation started at Wakop village on Sept 26, where three marijuana growers were identified and their plants uprooted.
He said the offenders were charged, the recommended penalty, but it was reduced by 40 per cent, where half the amount was paid in cash and the remainder served through community service work at Wakop village.
Geoctau said the same operation would continue into the other two villages, with similar penalties.
“If during the operation the team encounters any offensive behaviour from the suspects, the rural police head office at Lae will be called upon to assist the team,” he said.