PNG Police Get Boost With 60 New Vehicles From Japan

Papua New Guinea's police force has received a major lift in its ability to patrol the country, after Japan handed over more than 60 vehicles to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary this week.

The handover took place at the National Centre of Excellence in Bomana, outside Port Moresby, where Japanese Ambassador to PNG Hisanobu Mochizuki formally presented the fleet to police officials. The donation, valued at K12.8 million, was funded through Japan's economic and social development programme.

 PNG Police Get Boost With 60 New Vehicles From Japan/Photo supplied

Ambassador Mochizuki said the new fleet would give officers greater reach into communities that have long struggled with limited police presence, particularly in incident response and general patrol work.

He pointed to the upcoming 2027 general election as one of the key reasons behind the timing of the gift, noting that community safety would be critical in the lead-up to the polls.

"In the spirit of friendship, Japan has been a committed development partner of PNG across many areas, including education, health, infrastructure, energy, agriculture and disaster preparedness," Mochizuki said.

Police Minister Sir John Pundari, speaking on behalf of the force, expressed gratitude to Tokyo for the gesture and linked the donation directly to the government's broader push to reform frontline policing.

He said the force had for years been hampered by a lack of transport, which slowed everything from emergency response to routine investigations and victim support.

"A police service cannot meet public expectations if it lacks the means to move," Sir John said.

The minister called on officers receiving the vehicles to look after them properly, warning that the fleet's long-term value to the public depended on how well it was maintained.

"These vehicles have been provided for public purpose and must be maintained, protected and used only to support policing, public safety and service delivery," he said.