PNG Authorities apprehend Chinese man for allegedly Transporting Narcotics into Lae
A 42-year-old male Chinese national was apprehended by PNG authorities at the Lae airport, on Wednesday, 22nd of March 2023, while trying to board a plane out of Lae, Morobe province.
He’s alleged to be among the suspects involved in the transportation of narcotics including drug substances between Australia and Papua New Guinea.
He’s currently detained and is being questioned by police.
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| Lae City [Photo by Manu Bobola] |
At the same time, five men were apprehended in Queensland, Australia, after the plane landed from P-N-G loaded with 52 kilograms of methamphetamine.
This follows the investigations into a small undetected aircraft or Black Flight which left Bulolo at around 8am on Tuesday, allegedly loaded with narcotics.
The suspicious flight prompted the investigators of Operation Gepard, a covert operation by the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and Australian Federal Police, running since November last year, to track down the black flight and place surveillance on certain suspected properties and persons.
According to the Director General of the National Narcotics Centre, Donald Yamasombi, the black flight is part of international criminal syndicates that smuggle illicit substances across Australia through PNG over time.
ACP Yamasombi told the media that the RPNGC and AFP have embarked on joint operation 'Gepard' to combat transnational crimes not only in PNG and Australia but the greater Pacific as well.
“These are international crime syndicates as far as we can see, and we will not stop at any cost as these investigations are of importance to us in the law enforcement space,'' said Yamasombi.
The suspects involved in these drug deals are believed to be both nationals and expatriates, however, there are a number of persons of interest that RPNGC is looking into at the moment.
Mr. Yamasombi acknowledged the strong partnership between RPNGC and AFP in combating transnational crimes in the region over the years.
Police Commissioner David Manning says one thing the RPNGC is certain about is that PNG is being used as a transit point for transporting drugs to and from Australia.
He said this is a growing concern as such activities will lead to extensive trading and consumption of illicit substances which has the potential to harm populations both in PNG and Australia.
Investigations into these transnational crimes are ongoing which has seen investigators from both RPNGC and AFP working collectively in sharing intelligence and experience towards achieving a common goal.
According to Manning, the RPNGC desires to ramp up its capabilities and capacities to deal with this type of criminal activity more effectively and also strengthen its partnerships with international partners in other jurisdictions in the Pacific, typically Australia.
“The RPNGC is committed to collaborating with its partners and breaking this criminal business model. Transnational crime and narcotics trade has no place in PNG and the Pacific region,'' said Manning
Meantime, Operation Weathers on cocaine in 2020, Operation Saki Bomb on Meth in 2021, and Operation Gepard in 2022-2023 again on Meth undertaken by the RPNGC and AFP to curb transnational crimes in the region, are all currently on foot.
NBC News / PNG Today
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