Australian Federal Police

They were detained by a joint squad of Australian Federal Police and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Police officers in late November and early this month.

Five suspects were arrested in Mabaduan in Daru Province on various dates, and one was arrested in Port Moresby on December 01^st.

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.

AFP Assistant Police Commissioner, Jamie Strauss presented the two new portal digital forensic devices to Police Commissioner, David Manning witnessed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations, Donald Yamasombie yesterday, June 21.

The equipment was purchased together with a three-year license to operate.

Commissioner Strauss said this would address the need for such equipment to solve crimes particularly Transnational Organized crimes and collect concrete evidence for prosecution.

Deputy Prime Minister Charles Abel said both the Royal PNG Constabulary and the Australian Federal Police will need to agree to work on the best means to achieve this.

This was discussed during Abel’s visit to Australia last week.

The proposed arrangement will take into consideration the 2005 court decision which went in favour of former Morobe Governor, Luther Wenge, that the Enhanced Co-operation Program (ECP) was unconstitutional.

The ECP, worth AUD$1 billion, saw the deployment of AFP officers in PNG.

The is one of the many drills conducted by the Australian Federal Police with members of the joint forces, which consist of a mixture of Royal PNG Constabulary, PNG Defence Force, Correctional Services as well as the St John Ambulance.

AFP chief instructor for Senior Public Order Management, Sergeant Gary Hahn, said the training and drills are imperative for big events, especially when PNG plays host, like the World Cup and FIFA.

He said PNG is now in preparation mode for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in 2018.

The training was carried in conjunction with the RPNGC Traffic Directorate.

Assistant Police Commissioner for Operations, Jim Andrews on behalf of the Commissioner for Police presented the officers their medal to signify their completion of skill enhancement and practical training.

ACP Andrews thanked the Australian Federal Police through the Australian Government for putting into motion the initiative of training the members of the RPNGC especially the traffic division.

Abbott said this on Monday (November 08^th) during the Federation Chamber meeting in the Australian Parliament in Canberra.

He said Australia continued to focus on countries in South East Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States and were more important to them.

“Australia and PNG have geography in common, but we also have a future to work on as well as a past to honour and respect,” said Abbott.

Abbott was in PNG recently where he presented a speech at the Anglicare PNG Annual Dinner on November 02^nd in Port Moresby.

Wagambie, when commending the AFP personnel said the documents would be used by the Prosecutors in Lae to assist with the conduct of cases in the District Court.

The books provided a ready reference to Case law, Criminal Code Act, and Criminal Procedure Act during trials and hearings and will allow prosecutors to provide qualified and accurate response to questions in court.

Wagambie said the provisions of the book follow on from the introduction of a computerized prosecution management system for the tracking of cases through the courts by the Prosecutors.

This initiative is the first of its kind and was put together by Police Station Commander for Badili, Tony Kavan and his community policing officer.

The team of police officers comprised both of AFP and RPNGC officers who played against a team of Bosconians  which saw the boys beat the officers to a score of 39- 19 

Inspector Jim Armstrong of the AFP says the initiative was a great idea and that the games is one way to try to bring about community engagement and to show communities that they are there for them and vice versa.

College Commandant Perou N’Dranou  told PNG Loop that the 22 boxes which contained text books as well as manuals are must appreciated.

N’Dranou says that the books that cover a wide range of police training subject areas such as court room procedures, conduct and management manuals to even terrorism.

He says that the new police management manuals will come in handy as refresher  course material  by police station commanders and other unit commanders to use as well.