drug bust

In a recent crackdown, confiscated drugs worth between K1 and K2 million were destroyed in a bonfire. The exhibits, which included marijuana, homemade guns, and ammunition, were seized from offenders between March and November 2022.

Despite being overdue for destruction, the officials ensured that these items were destroyed in a safe manner, with guns and ammunition being dumped in the sea.

Reportedly, the authorities had convicted 32 offenders for possessing drugs between March and November last year, with prison sentences ranging from three to 10 years.

Police officers who were doing motorist patrol along the Hiritano Highway were notified of the movement of the nine men who were travelling from Tapani into Port Moresby.

Central Provincial police commander Superintendent John Midi said the police officers were doing motorist check at Doa towards Agevairu on vehicles travelling along the highway when they sighted a suspicious Toyota Land Cruiser that had nine people inside the vehicle.

43-year-old Chun Li, from Guangdong Province in China, appeared before the Lae Committal Court today.

Senior Provincial Magistrate, Pious Tapil, was told that Chun knowingly transported 88 bags of methamphetamine on Tuesday, March 21^st, from KC2 at Seventh Street in Lae to the Bulolo airstrip.

Police reported that between 4 and 4.30am on Tuesday, Chun and his accomplice were observed inside the KC2 premises, loading the bags from a trolley into a tinted Landcruiser.

The vehicle reportedly headed for Bulolo with Chun and three others inside.

The Australian Federal Police claim that on Monday, the pilot, a 51-year-old Fairy Meadow man, and co-pilot, a 52-year-old Tahmoor man, flew a twin-engine Beechcraft light aircraft from Wilton, south-west of Sydney, to the town of Bulolo in PNG, which is more than 250km north-west of Port Moresby.

The pilots allegedly collected 52kg of methamphetamine in PNG and then returned to an airstrip at Monto in Queensland.

Mr Tamari said the suspects were caught with the drugs in a house in Musungwil Village, Drekikir LLG. The drugs were neatly packed and ready to be transported to Vanimo in Sandaun Province, and then onto Jayapura, Indonesia.

PPC Tamari said one of the suspects escaped while two were caught and transported to Maprik Police Station, where they are now being detained.

Cleopas Warpit, Ward Member for Vunadidir ward in Toma Vunadidir LLG in Gazelle District said this when commending and appreciating the efforts of officers involved in the Rabaul District festive operations.

The trio - Tazo Tinoa and Raymond Peter from Eastern Highlands Province, and Tony Walange from East Sepik, were charged on Tuesday December 27, 2022 after police confiscated 16 kilograms of marijuana they had carefully hidden in a bag of sweet potatoes from Lae, aboard the MV Kula.

The drug bust was carried out by two officers from the Rabaul Urban LLG with the assistance of two Mobile Squad officers from Tomaringa, after they received a tip off.

This was the result of the special police operations for the festive season in Rabaul District, which commenced on Thursday Dec 22, 2022 and will run for 14 days.

The suspect brought the drugs that were carefully hidden in a bag of sweet potatoes from Lae, aboard the MV Kulau.

West New Britian Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector John Allan Iara confirmed that four of the suspects are from East Kove-Kaliai LLG in West New Britain and one is from Wasara in East Sepik.

PPC Iara explained that when the passenger vessel was about 4 nautical miles from Bialla wharf, the suspects threw the bags of marijuana onto an outboard motor that was travelling near the ship.

He said two of the suspects jumped into the boat and sped off. But not without the ship’s captain noticing them and alerting police.

A shipment of 613 kilograms of the drug - with what police say is a retail value of more than $245 million - was stopped at Auckland Airport last Thursday.

Six people aged between 27 and 36 have been arrested and some have links to the Comancheros motorcycle gang.

Investigators made further enquiries into the intercepted shipment over recent days and search warrants were executed across South Auckland yesterday.

Cutmore who appeared at the Waigani Committal Court, without his lawyer from the Public Solicitor says he needs medical operation in Australia.

Cutmore is in court for a charge dealing with criminal property under the Criminal Code Act and Money Laundering Financial Act of 2015.

Police alleged Cutmore transported “dirty money” of  AU$75, 000 in cash into the country in a plane that crashed into the bushes of Papa-Lealea, outside Port Moresby in 2020.