PNG PM Marape says Outbreak of COVID-19 through CPHL Staff

Papua New Guinea Police have arrested four suspects  in Port Moresby over the weekend, in relation to the plane crash and the cocaine seizure last week, in Papa Lealea, outside Port Moresby.

Police Commissioner David Manning told a media briefing yesterday, that the pilot - David John Cutmore led the investigators to the first two suspects at the Sunset Lodge in Lealea, with another arrest at Manu Autuport and another at a lodge in the city.

Mr. Manning says the suspects at the Sunset Lodge and Manu Autoport had in their possession, twenty thousand Australian dollars each.

“On 30th July, we executed some of these search warrants at Sunset Lodget in Papa Lealea, and arrested two suspects being two PNG male nationals.

On Friday 31st July, further inquiries were made which led to the arrest of another suspect at Manu Autoport in the nation’s capital which led us to a local lodge in the city in which we were able to retrieve large amount of Australian cash, TV screens – which were evidence of items that were brought in on the plane.

This also led to the apprehension of another suspect. The first suspect at Manu Autoport had in his possession – 20,000 Australian dollars , the second suspect at the lodge also had with him 20,000 Australian dollars as well.

The suspects confessed to the location of the drugs which led Mr. Yamasombi and his team to the bushlands around south of Papa Lealea where the drugs were located and retrieved the same day,” Mr. Manning said.

The Police Commissioner said investigations are still ongoing into how the drug got into the country, among others.

Australian Federal Police have already arrested five men in relation to this plane crash, for conspiring to import over 750 kilograms of cocaine from PNG into Australia.

The drugs were seized, at Papa Lealea, Central Province, by officers from the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, and the Australian Federal Police on 26th July.

Police believe the plane may have crashed due to the weight of the drugs.

Meantime, Commissioner Manning said additional charges are expected to be laid on pilot – David John Cutmore.

Mr. Cutmore had initially been charged under the Immigration Act for 'Illegal Entry' and fined K3000.

Manning said Cutmore is expected to be slapped with further charges under the National Pandemic Act 2020.

“The Constabulary is cooperating with Australian authorities in relation to his [Cutmore’s] involvement with others in the conspiracy to import the drugs into Australia – an offence which carries a 25-year maximum sentence in Australia,” Mr. Manning said.

NBC News/ PNG Today

Next : 

PNG PM Marape says Outbreak of COVID-19 through CPHL Staff