The suspected drug smuggler was apprehended at about 02.20 p.m. local time on his way to Jayapura, the capital of Papua Province, according to the Indonesia-PNG border police chief, 2nd Inspector Alexander Yarisetouw.
The suspect told the security officers who arrested him that he obtained the drug package from PNG and entered Papua by taking a shortcut near the Skouw-Wutung border crossing checkpoint in the outskirts of Jayapura.
"The suspect along with the evidence of his crime have been handed over to the Muara Tami police precinct for further investigation into the case," he said without disclosing the suspect's identity.
The Indonesia-PNG border remains vulnerable to cross-border criminal activities, including the trafficking of marijuana.
On Wednesday, July 17, 2024, for instance, the Papua police arrested three suspected drug smugglers, believed to belong to a Papua-Papua New Guinea kingpin, during a raid in Jayapura District, Papua.
Local cops seized 394 packages of marijuana from the suspects, identified as NJDM, IT, and TT, according to Chief of the Papua Police's Narcotics Directorate, Senior Commissioner Alfian.
In the early morning of Thursday, March 21, 2024, Papua police officers nabbed two PNG citizens for allegedly smuggling 51 packages of marijuana from their country into Papua.
They were apprehended at around 2:15 a.m. local time in the Hamadi Hanurata neighborhood of Jaya Selatan Sub-district, Jayapura City.
The suspects, identified as Junior Lenga and Rindox, carried 51 packages of marijuana that they had concealed in four sacks of rice.
Police investigators found that Junior Lenga was on the Jayapura city police's priority watch list, as he had escaped from the Abepura Penitentiary when jailed in connection with a drug smuggling case.
On March 22, 2021, police officers in Papua also arrested a citizen of PNG for allegedly being involved in a cross-border drug trafficking network.
The police personnel confiscated five sacks of marijuana from the detainee, named Gadafi Kuentaw Waropo, 18.
He was apprehended in Many Island of Jayapura Selatan Sub-district, Jayapura City, following the arrest of Beny Toway Waropo, 28.
To fight cross-border drug trafficking operations, the PNG Police in West Sepik Province have sought collaboration with the Indonesian police in Papua.
A total of 110 PNG citizens are being sentenced in connection with drug cases in the Doyo Penitentiary in Jayapura District.
Related news: Papua Police seize 394 packages of marijuana
Related news: PNG police seeks collaboration with Papua to fight drug trafficking
Translator: Yudhi E, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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