Duo jailed for 25 years for drug offences

The Madang District Court has convicted six drug suspects this week for being in possession of dangerous drugs, namely marijuana.

Two of the six were given a prison term of 25 years each, whilst four were sentenced to five years each under the new Controlled Substance Act 2021.

Their prison terms are based on the quantities of marijuana found in their possession.

The duo, who are serving a jail term of 25 years each, are 27 year old Aleku Yeng from Wab Village and 20 year old Kenny Ismael from Gaptamon Village, both in the Raikos District in Madang Province.

They were in possession of 14 to 20 kilograms of marijuana.

The two told the court "We were faced with school fee problems, and in order to secure money, we decided to get involved in drugs and earn money to pay our school fees later."

They said the marijuana was harvested at Singal, a remote village in the hinterlands of Raikos District, where the climate is cold and the soil is fertile and suitable for cultivating cannabis.

They were intercepted by Saidor Police and later transported into town by Madang police, who were in the district for another investigation.

Whilst handing down the decision on Thursday, the court explained that the maximum penalty for drug offences under the new Act is a 40 year imprisonment term or a K100, 000.00 court fine.

Magistrate Fridolin Kambibel said, "the quantity is too much and seeing the number of drug cases coming before the court and the kind of impact that would be affecting our community and society, a higher penalty is appropriate to deter such offences in the future. Therefore, 25 years imprisonment is reasonable and justifies the quantity you have had in your possession."