Police in Southern Highlands arrest armed Men

 Papua New Guinea police in Southern Highlands province have arrested and charged nine (9)  armed suspects  for being  armed and in possession of a M16A2 rifle, live ammunition as well as Police and PNG Defence Force Uniforms. 

Southern Highlands Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector Daniel Yangen said the suspects were arrested on July 20 and charged with two counts each under section 7 and section 65A of the Firearms Act and two counts each under section 16 of the Summary Offences Act.

Photo: The M16 2A rifle, live ammunition and a fully loaded magazine confiscated by the members of the Police Mobile Squad and PNGDF Forces on routine patrol along Mendi to Nipa road on July 20, 2022.

Mr Yangen said the suspects' ages ranges from 19 to 45 years old and were from the Nipa Kutubu and Mendi Munihu districts in the Southern Highlands province (SHP).

Members of the Police Mobile Squad and the PNG Defence Force were on patrol along the Mendi-Nipa road when they came across a suspicious vehicle (Toyota land Cruiser, ten-seater white in colour bearing registration number HAY 084).

The security personnel intercepted the suspicious vehicle at the Megi Hill and searched the vehicle. They found a high powered M16A2 rifle with fully loaded magazine and seven extra live 5.56mm ammunition, Police Field Uniform as well as PNG Defence Force camouflage uniform in the vehicle. The suspects were brought to Mendi, charged and locked up.

Mr Yangen said according to the serial number obtained from the weapon it is a PNG Deference Force issued firearm.

He said the suspects were remanded at the Buiebi Prison in the Southern Highlands, then onto the Baisu Correctional Service in the Western Highlands province. The suspects will appear in court on Thursday 28 July.

Mr Yangen commended the members of the security forces for a job well done in confiscating the high-powered firearm.

“We have more to go and the first part was completed. We are in the middle of the election security operations and by the end of this month we should complete this operation. All members of the disciplinary forces are working well and I want them to maintain the same spirit.

“We are working tirelessly to ensure law and order prevails in the province. We have done the polling in a peaceful manner and we are also expecting the same result during the counting and the declaration periods,” Mr Yangen said.

Police Media/PNG Today

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