MEDIA RELEASE | 06 December 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PNGPCL Security Confiscate Marijuana PNG Ports Corporation Limited (PNGPCL) has a corporate responsibility in ensuring that all its ports are not used as transit points for illicit drugs and firearms and will continue to monitor and report suspects to police. PNGPCL emphasizes this responsibility by having in place policies on no tolerance to illicit drugs and other prohibited substances in its ports consistent with the International Shipping and Port Security (ISPS) Code. From January to date PNGPCL staff have successfully identified and confiscated over 170 kilograms of marijuana throughout the country. Drugs and suspects were handed over to police. Most recently in November 32 kilograms of marijuana was seized in Kimbe after PNG Ports security officers with assistance from contracted external security service providers and police from Kimbe's Drug Squad conducted random checks on coastal passenger vessels arriving from Lae. On November 22 and November 28, 2011, security personnel noticed two suspicious baggages left unattended and upon further investigation it was discovered that they contained packaged marijuana. The next day on November 29, 2011 a person acting suspiciously was asked to open her second hand bale of clothing which revealed six neatly wrapped and concealed parcels of marijuana amongst the clothing. The parcels weighed a total of 7 kilograms. The suspect was later arrested and taken away for further questioning by the Kimbe Drug Squad. For the record the following statistics indicate our efforts at PNGPCL to prevent the transshipment of illicit drugs around the country:
PNGPCL’s Senior Security Manager, Mr. Michael Piel said marijuana that is intercepted in Rabaul or Kimbe ports may be going through direct transfer cargo onto passenger vessels at our Lae port or through other private port facilities. To alleviate this PNGPCL is in the process of purchasing drug testing and detection equipment to screen all passengers and cargo. PNGPCL Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Brian Riches said: “All our ports are security regulated ports and maintain national and international security compliance standards, therefore, we will continue to assist law enforcement agencies at all times to prevent and report any illicit activity.” Mr. Riches further stressed that persons and cargo entering our ports are subject to search as a condition of entry and we are working on arrangements with the Royal PNG Constabulary to enhance our capacities to empower our security personnel powers of search and arrest of suspects and offenders.For more information, please contact: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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