On September 3rd, the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority (ICA) facilitated the return of five unlawful non-citizens to Vietnam after they were found to be working in contravention of their visa conditions.
The Vietnamese nationals were taken into immigration detention at the newly-opened Bomana Immigration Centre (BIC) on September 2nd after they had been found to be illegally poaching and smuggling sea cucumbers.
Sea cucumbers are a protected species of commercial significance to PNG.
Deputy Chief Migration Officer, Stanis Hulahau, said these foreign nationals thought they could get away with profiting from breaking PNG law.
“We’re here to protect the PNG community and economy from being taken advantage of in this way. Once these individuals had served their sentence, ICA cancelled their visas and detained them at the BIC to await their removal from PNG,” he stated.
“I can say that ICA is fortunate to have the BIC to ensure those who circumvent PNG immigration regulations are available for immediate removal from PNG. Through my role, I engage with immigration authorities around the globe, and our BIC would be the envy of many border enforcement authorities,” said Hulahau.
He said these five men accepted that they had no right to remain, they cooperated with ICA and ultimately they spent only one night in the BIC. All five are now back in their country.
“I hope that their experience serves to demonstrate just how quickly ICA can work to end detention and facilitate departure when the individuals concerned cooperate with us.”