Madang police charge PNG Defence Force soldiers caught with contraband items and live ammunition

Three PNG Defence Force soldiers have been arrested and charged by Madang police for having in their possession a huge quantity of contraband items including several rounds of live ammunition.

The trio were traveling into Madang from Bogia where they had arrived on an outboard dinghy from Wewak.

The three who are members of the 2RPIR, Moem Barracks were on board a truckload of betel nut bags headed for the Highlands region when they were stopped at a police roadblock near the RD Tuna factory along North Coast road on Saturday.

Madang’s Provincial Police Commander, Acting Superintendent Robert Baim said there were 8 soldiers who had travelled in from Wewak, enroute to their home provinces for the Christmas holiday however three were found to have in their possessions the live ammunitions and contraband items identified to be firecrackers after a thorough police check.

The first soldier was identified as Pean Manga, 29 from Kimil Village in North Waghi District of Jiwaka Province, who had in his possession sixty live 5.56mm ammunitions and 30 pieces of 5. 56mm of blank rounds.

The second solider is 31-year-old John Larry from Kaupena Village, Hagen Central, Western Highlands Province and he was arrested and charged for having in his possession a magazine with 10 pieces of 5. 56mm rounds

Both Manga and Larry are charged under Section 65 A of the Firearms Act.

The third solider identified as Hesley Bero, 28-years from Wapenamanda Station in Enga Province and in possession of 8 pieces of 5 rounds of firecrackers was charged under Section 14 of the Explosives Act.

The three were released on 2-thousand-kina bail each and will appear in court this week.

Following their arrests on Saturday, PPC Baim sent out a strong warning to the general public that Madang is not a transit point for conveying illicit substances.

He said security in Madang has been beefed up and cautioned would- be perpetrators to think twice before getting involved in such activities because he will not tolerate such anymore.

PPC Baim has also called on the commanders of Police, Defence Force and Correctional Service to tighten rules on their members who involve in such activities, and to also take stock of their arms and ammunitions during and after every operation.

He said there are measures in place for the commanders of the disciplined forces to ensure their men and women account well for their weapons and ammunitions.