Sandaun Provincial Police Commander Robert Gesa says border provinces must be given support and resources to help protect the country’s international border before the 2018 APEC Leaders’ Summit.
Papua New Guinea’s capital Port Moresby will host the APEC leaders’ summit and will be the biggest security test for the country since gaining independence in 1975.
PPC Gesa told Loop PNG in Vanimo that security must not only be concentrated in Port Moresby because any person can cross into the unmanned borders of Sandaun and Western provinces and travel to Port Moresby and stage an attack.
He also revealed that intelligence officers from Papua New Guinea and Australia visited Vanimo on a fact finding mission this week.
“They flew in on Sunday to do a familiarisation visit, trying to get more details about the security aspects on the ground here in Vanimo and the border issues.
“I think it is in line with the security operations for 2018 APEC in Port Moresby,” Gesa said.