From terminal to trouble: 3 caught smuggling drugs in cab

A 57-year-old woman and two men from Tari in Hela Province were arrested by Vision City Cop Shop police officers on June 12 after they were caught transporting marijuana in a taxi from Jacksons International Airport.

National Capital District Metropolitan Superintendent Warick Simatab confirmed the arrests, saying the trio are currently in custody and expected to appear in court later this week.

According to a police brief, the couple was spotted at the airport acting suspiciously. Security guards, observing their unusual behavior, alerted police as the pair entered a waiting taxi and left the premises.

Supt. Simatab said the guards continued to follow the taxi while staying in contact with police units.

Officers intercepted the vehicle and conducted a search, which led to the discovery of marijuana inside.
The suspects were taken to the Vision City Cop Shop, where they were interrogated and admitted ownership of the illicit substance.

“I want to thank the security officers at the airport and the police officers at Vision City for their well-organized communication that led to the apprehension of the three,” Simatab said.

“I want to see more of that from the private sector, especially security guards. When the public and the police work together, those criminal-minded people will not have a place in the community.”

He also revealed a growing concern that individuals are smuggling drugs from other provinces via domestic flights, often undetected due to weak coordination between airport security and law enforcement.

Simatab said coordination worked well in this case and hopes to see more of such.

The three individuals were charged under Section 63 [1] of the Controlled Substances Act 2021 for knowingly having 11 bags of marijuana weighing a total of 13 kilograms.

They are currently being held at Boroko Police Station awaiting their court appearance