Tougher laws needed

OUR front page picture of the convicted drug offenders deported on Saturday giving the peace or victory sign only reaffirms the call for tougher laws concerning drugs.
Police in PNG currently use the Drug Act 1954 which has a maximum jail term of only two years.
That is only a slap-on-the-wrist jail term.
The Act carried only four offences of cultivating, harvesting, in procession and making of marijuana.
Similarly, cocaine use and abuse carried soft penalties guided by laws against marijuana.
Marijuana or cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug in the country.
There is no secret that this drug has been around in communities and the increase in cases should now be concern.
We publish articles almost every day on drug busts and arrests.
All good for the arrest, but the concern now is that PNG does not have tough laws for the offenders.
The two men are among seven foreigners) caught with cocaine worth about A$1.5 million (about K3.4mil) by a joint police and Defence Force navy team on a naval patrol boat about 50 nautical miles from Budibudi Island in Milne Bay on May 23 last year.
For that, they were sentenced to 18 months in prison
With the change in time, this Act must be amended so authorities have ammunition to penalise not marijuana dealers but those who want to try their hand on morphine, cocaine or ice.
Compared to Indonesia, our closest of neighbour, we are poles apart when it comes to drug offences and penalties.
Across the border, a drug offender of the worst sort faces death.
That is the grim contrast.
The soft penalties is definitely no way a deterrent to those involved in what many say is a lucrative business.
Drug related offences in the country especially on marijuana trafficking has increased.
People say it is the role of police to provide security and make our communities safe but we must remember it is also our duty to assist also.
Police could not just be everywhere to provide security and be watchdogs, this is because they will need information to do that.
Police cannot act on guess work as people’s rights to privacy is also taken into consideration.
So it is important for people to must report information relating to the abuse of drug not only for the police to do their job but to keep ones safety secured as drugs not only is illegal but could cause social and health issues as well.
That is a concern and must be addressed before it takes a rippling effect on the society.
Department of Justice and Attorney-General Secretary Dr Eric Kwa said last month year said the drug laws were being reviewed to create new laws and increase the penalty years.
The department was waiting for the Constitution Law Reform Commission to submit its report so that its recommendations and suggestions to increase penalties could be taken on.
We’ve said it before and will continue on this … with trade and business agreements between PNG and Indonesia already in place, it would not hurt if we ask for guidance in amending the Drug Act 1954 and incorporate some of their penalties like traffickers receiving death penalty into ours.