Police to meet airport officials on ban

Police, National Airports Corporation, Air Niugini and NCDC officials are anticipated to be meeting over Buai ban related issues that were brought forward during January 20’s Mustard bust.

During the haul, 49 Mustard bags were confiscated at the airport in a joint effort by police who handed over the cargo to NCDC officials to dispose of the bags.

Airport Police Station Commander Robert Wane says the meeting is important as yesterday’s incident signified a new trend that smugglers were carrying out to bring in betelnut and mustard into the city.

PSC Wane says he has arranged a meeting to address security and legal issues that have surfaced due to the incident.

There is a need for all relevant stakeholders policing the ban to meet and set some ground rules on how best they can monitor and deter people from bringing in the banned cargoes  through airline companies.

Wane says the airport is the biggest breach in terms of  the banned cargo being flown into the capital city, which is why he  wants an agreement to be facilitated between port officials through the NAC,  airline companies such as Air Niugini and NCDC who are enforcing the ban.

Wane says police involvement in the ban is to help in detaining perpetrators then handing them over to the NCDC to  be penalised accordingly while their  illegal items are disposed.

 

Author: 
Julianna Waeda