PNG Deputy PM Steven calls for Citizens to provide information on Cocaine Haul
PNG Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Justice & Attorney General, Davis Steven is calling on all responsible PNG citizens to uphold the laws of the land and help police in providing information on the latest drug bust, termed as the biggest drug haul in the country’s history.
“Papua New Guinea has been and continues to be used by international drug cartels and crime syndicates as a landing ground and a forward base for their illicit operations.
This is evidenced by the recent incident of the light plane crash outside Port Moresby.
It also appears that this illegal and drug trafficking incident has the support of individuals in state owned institutions and this in itself is a very worrying development,” he said.
“For example, we are aware that this exercise was a joint operation between the Australian and PNG Police.
Whilst Australia has moved and arrested a number of individuals alleged to be involved in this illegal and drug trafficking operation, there has been no arrests so far of individuals in PNG, who obviously were party to this operation.
“Someone in PNG cleared the landing strip and someone in PNG brought the drugs to the aeroplane out at Papa and Lealea.
Someone in PNG arranged for fuel to be supplied for the aeroplane to enable the aeroplane to fly back to Australia.
Why no individual in PNG has been rounded up and brought in for questioning by the authorities is also very worrying.
“A light aeroplane landing in an unusual landing site should raise a lot of questions from people living in the vicinity.
By now, Police should be speaking to these villagers.
I believe people in Papa and Lealea villages knew or heard the aeroplane flying in to land in the nearby bushes next to their villages.
Why didn’t any of these villagers raise the alarm with authorities in this day and age of mobile phones? Or if they did raise the alarm, why didn’t the authorities act on these alarms?”
He said Prime Minister James Marape has stated that PNG is not a ‘banana republic’ for people to fly in and land anywhere as they please without proper authorisation.
“Sadly, over the years, we have seen foreigners using our country for their own gains mainly because our own people who are supposed to be upholding the laws of our country have been compromised.
Illicit trade, not only in drugs but also in other products, is rampant in PNG and foreigners cheat their way with help from PNG citizens holding high positions who are supposed to be upholding the laws and protecting our country.
He called on the Police Commissioner and his team to round up the suspects in PNG and ensure they are processed, prosecuted within our laws and if found guilty, punished in accordance with our laws.
“The police must leave no stone unturned in this investigation and anyone who contributed in one way or another to the commitment of this transnational crime on our shores must be brought forward to answer for the alleged crimes”
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