IOM to use PNG community to curb people trafficking

The International Organisation for Migration says it will involve locals in Papua New Guinea to try and stop smuggling and people trafficking on the Indonesian border.

The IOM is working with PNG authorities and Canada's Border Protection Agency to improve surveillance and monitoring.

The agency's head of mission in PNG, George Gigauri, says people crossing the border illegally tend to be from third countries and are usually trying to reach Australia.

Mr Gigauri says the numbers are not large - likely to be in the dozens rather than the hundreds.

He says given the long border, the inhospitable country and communal land ownership, the IOM believes working with the local communties is the way to go.

"The model we are trying to promote is a community based surveillance model where you have the communities as the first responders and communicating with government officials when they see something suspicious."

The IOM's George Gigauri.