PNG Authorities crack down on Brothels in Port Moresby

A joint operation task force lead by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship authority with the assistance of police raided suspected brothels in NCD over the weekend.

The raid is part of a spot check exercise in response to complaints about several lodges in the city allegedly entertaining prostitution activities in their premises.

This newsroom and other media houses accompanied the team to capture the events over the weekend.

The spot check raid by the joint task force team started at Vadavada in Port Moresby South electorate, then to Molla Lodge at 2mile along the Hubert Murray freeway and 6 other locations within the city.

Senior Migration officer Paul Holonga says most of the brothels were disguised as lodges and guesthouses with very low quality of services which breached tourism industry standards in PNG. 

A total of 7 foreigners with their employees were apprehended during the raid were brought to the Immigration Detention Centre at Bomana, where they were processed to verify their passports and work permits. 

The Immigration team revealed that there were a total of 15 locations in the city where these illegal prostitution operations are happening. 

However, less than half of them were raided and others will soon be attended to in the near future.  

After two (2) months of intelligence gathering, a routine spot check exercise was conducted in metropolitan NCD and several foreign own businesses operating in the city and suspected to be conducting disreputable business activities that do not conform to regulatory standards including visa and work permit obligations were inspected and several foreigner nationals apprehended.

" Let me make it clear that foreign nationals are always welcome to conduct businesses in the country but must comply with all our laws including having valid visas to remain legally in the country,” said Chief Migration Officer Stanis Hulahau. 

The PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority (PNGICA) has been issuing visas to all foreign nationals who have applied through the formal process to encourage foreign investment, stimulate economic growth, create employment, skills transfer and retain skilled foreign employees during this challenging time.

“But I am also mindful of the national security issues concerning the conduct of certain foreign nationals engaging in undesirable businesses in the country," said CMO Hulahau.

NBC / PNG Today

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