Nine suspects were arrested for being in possession of seven marijuana (cannabis) bags and are in Kikori police cells in the Gulf province.
Gulf Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Chief Inspector Jefferey Lemb said the suspects were told of their rights and placed in the police cell. They are waiting for their court files to be processed.
PPC Lemb confirmed that the seven marijuana bags weighed 125.6kg and estimated street value could be around K100,000 in PNG but in Australia could be million dollars.
Mr Lemb said the suspects were apprehended after the police received a tip off that the suspects were transporting marijuana from Southern Highlands province to be transported to the Western province. He said the four suspects were from the Southern Highlands province whilst two suspects were from the Western province.
Police alleged that on Sunday 13th July 2025, the five suspects from the Southern Highlands province arrived in Kikori on a white Toyota ten-seater vehicle at around 4am with the seven bags of marijuana (cannabis) to be transported to Daru, Western Province. The driver and the crew of the ten-seater vehicle dropped off the two suspects with the marijuana bags at bushes at the Ogomabua bridge before entering Kikori station.
It was also alleged that the vehicle looked suspicious so the police who maintained the checkpoint at Kikori searched the vehicle and questioned the driver and the crew. The driver and the crew then gave information on the suspects that led to the arrest of two suspects including the driver and the crew whilst one suspect in the vehicle escaped.
Police also alleged that seven other suspects were on the dinghy to transfer drugs from the land cruiser to the Western province. The two suspected were apprehended on Sunday 13th July 2025 along the Kikori river by the police whilst one caught yesterday Monday and two caught today. Two suspects are still at large. There were five suspects on the land cruiser but four apprehended and one escaped. This brings the total number of suspects up to nine individuals.
Mr Lemb said that there were seven other suspects (one from the vehicle & six from the dinghy) but they all escaped. He said police investigation is continuing and those suspects who are on the run would be apprehended soon.
PPC Lemb said these drugs came from the Highlands and were meant to be transported to the Australian market through Saibai then onto Cains and Townsville. He said the drugs were packed compact and ready for Australia.
“Gulf is leading in the accumulated years in court convictions. We got one male convicted for 40 years at Malalaua District Court in Kerema for conveying and in possession of five kilograms of marijuana under the amended Dangerous Drug Act. “The public must be aware that the amended Dangerous Drug Act and Controlled substances Act are very tough on perpetrators. They must think twice before deciding to get involved in the drug business because the penalties are severe,” PPC Lembi said.
Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Gulf, Chief Inspector Jefferey Lemb