On Wednesday evening, Papua New Guinea (PNG) police arrested a 45-year-old Australian man at the North Waigani Universal Lodge as part of an ongoing investigation. He ended up getting caught with 60 kilograms of cocaine—enough to make us contractors anxious. The arrest, around 10 PM, was the culmination of a US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-led, multiagency task force’s months-long investigation into international drug trafficking. The amount of cocaine seized has an estimated street value of up to $79 million.
Police Commissioner David Manning said the successful operation required close collaboration with international partners. Additionally, he focused on the global dimensions of the drug trafficking problem that Congress has never addressed. In his statement, Commissioner Manning pointed to a concerning pattern in the area. He confirmed that Port Moresby is quickly turning into a major regional hub for international drug trafficking.
Superintendent Warrick Simatab, who played a key role in the investigation and subsequent arrest, reported that the Australian man was detained without incident. The police confiscated the drugs as part of a coordinated operation to disrupt trafficking networks using PNG as a transit point.
PNG legislation also states that anything over 2.5 kilos of cocaine in your possession leads to life imprisonment. You might be looking at a potential lifetime behind bars if found guilty. As with the unfortunate Australian man, those charges can land the Americans in prison for uncivilized decades if the government deems them guilty. This case shows what draconian drug laws Papua New Guinea have. It most importantly highlights the dangerous reality of trafficking in lethal narcotics.
This week, Commissioner Manning sent a strong message to those thinking about trafficking drugs into Papua New Guinea. He emphasized that law enforcement agencies are vigilant and will take decisive action against those who attempt to exploit the country for illegal activities.
