Police Commissioner David Manning has commended the Water Police for intercepting and confiscating 20 kilograms of marijuana bound for Kimbe, West New Britain, via Lae, yesterday in Port Moresby.
A total of six plastic packs of marijuana was on board MV Momase ready to be shipped to Kimbe when members of the Water Police Directorate, acted on a tip-off, and intercepted the drugs.
Water Police Director Chief Inspector Chris Smith said initially a female student from Goroka School of Nursing was framed in the ordeal and the three main suspects escaped.
He said the three suspects saw police and escaped. However, they were later tracked down after five hours and arrested.
“They are currently behind bars and appropriate charges will be laid,” Mr Smith said.
Commissioner Manning said, “A specialist police unit has been formed to deal with drug syndicates and illicit substances and so far, the team has made great progress in a number of operations.
“I’m warning those who are involved in distributing and consuming such illicit substances, once you are caught you will be severely dealt with under the new laws of the country,” Commissioner Manning said.