FIREARMS CONCERN

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A high-ranking police officer says he is concerned that unless there are updated and effective laws in place for the availability and use of firearms, the country will be flooded with contraband firearms and ammunition, which can become a threat to public and national security.

Acting Assistant Commissioner of Crimes Detective Chief Superintendent Donald Yamasombi says a collaboration between Police and Customs officers, has been successful in busting firearm rackets, but only to be let down by the courts, whom he says, cannot prosecute the offenders, because of a lapse or ambiguity in the Firearms Act.

A combined Police and Customs operations in Lae last month, uncovered the shipment of two M4 Colt Rifles with sliding butss and mounted night vision and more than 200 rounds of 5-point-5-6 millimetre ammunition.

The search also uncovered two S-T-I 9-millimetre caliber pistols, with 12 magazines.

Chief Superintendent Yamasombi says two foreigners were arrested.

"They were in possession of high-powered firearms, much more superior than what police and army have in the country.

"For a citizen or a non-citizen to own such a weapon in the country is a big security threat.

"My other concern is that once these weapons get into the country, they are legitimised, meaning they are licensed.

"Police in collaboration with Customs, we are trying to apply the law and arrested those people.

"But when we took them to court, we found that the law is weak.

"The Firearms Act has now become out-dated, and there is ambiguity or uncertainty on the provisions that we used to charged the duo," Chief Superintendent Yamasombi said.