Thursday June 19, 2025
In the past couple of weeks, police have arrested people smuggling cannabis through planes into Port Moresby, which is now a security concern for the police.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Special Operations Donald Yamasombi, who has received reports from his police officers regarding the arrest and seizure of cannabis from different terminals at Jackson’s International Airport, said this is now a significant security concern for the constabulary both locally and internationally.
“If our airline companies are transporting marijuana from villages to Port Moresby, what guarantee will it be to transport it out of PNG to other countries? Our security companies, the airline companies, customs, and all the agencies must now work together to strengthen this. They are bringing the drug in larger quantities, as per reports received,” DCP Yamasombi said.
He further added that last week, a couple and a taxi driver from Hela province were arrested and charged for having in their possession 13 kilograms of marijuana that came in from the Highlands region. He also mentioned that recently, on Wednesday, about 10 kilograms of marijuana were brought in from Tapini on a flight from Twin Hotter Chatter from Woitape in Goilala to Port Moresby. Mr. Yamasombi said the marijuana was left unattended at the terminal when police arrived at the scene, but no one claimed the bags, which the police officers took to the Drug Squad office for destruction.
DCP Yamasombi further added that officers working at our airports and some of the police officers are not honest in their duties and are involved in illegal activities. He also made reference to a case that is under investigation involving police officers from Seven Mile Police Station and the National Airports Corporation officers.
“Some police officers and also some National Airports Corporation officers were caught last month convoying a huge amount of marijuana out of the airport at locations where they were not supposed to be, but they were doing that illegally. All the officers involved have been identified and will be charged accordingly. The police and the NAC officers should be doing what they are supposed to do so that the people who are smuggling drugs will be scared because the authorities are very tough. Because some officers are involved in that, it has made the smugglers think they can do it, and when caught, they can pay their way out,” Yamasombi said.
He further added that in another incident on May 5th, 2025, a large quantity of marijuana was brought in by Air Sanga that was at the terminal when police officers from the Drug Squad were tipped off. They visited the scene and confirmed that more than five bags of drugs were left unattended at the terminal.
DCP Yamasombi further added that the police officers from the Drug Squad were investigating a previous case where some police officers from the Seven Mile Police Station were involved in conveying a huge amount of drugs that were never brought to the Drug Squad office for profiling and labeling as exhibits when they came across the above marijuana. He said that according to the initial reports, the NAC officers and Seven Mile officers conspired and took the marijuana out of the terminal in a National Airports Corporation (NAC) vehicle to gate 6, loaded it onto a police vehicle that belonged to Seven Mile, and drove off.
He also confirmed that the marijuana never reached the Drug Squad office. He said that the police bosses in NCD were notified of the drug bust, but the exhibits were never taken to the specialist division for verification and labeling. He said this had led them to the investigation that made the NAC officers bring only eight bags that they took on May 14 to the Drug Squad office. According to sources, it was more than eight bags that they removed, but the NAC officers only brought in eight.
“Police officers are investigating that, and arrests will be made soon. This arrest will lead to the arrest of those who are party to the movement of these drugs. It had been happening in the past, and nothing had been done, so my officers will try their best to make sure they get all those involved charged. If it means arresting the airline companies, it will happen because they failed to do proper checks before loading the goods. Port Moresby is now full with drug addicts because the authorities are participating in moving drugs to Port Moresby. I want to commend the officers from the Drug Squad, NCD police, and all those who were involved in information gathering to build a case that will now be used to monitor the airline companies and other transport companies, Yamasombi said.
