In March 2012, Lae customs and police officers seized a 20-foot container from the Philippines and found 4 pistols and 19 magazines packed in a safe, addressed to 38-year-old Indonesian property and maintenance manager, Yoshi Kuni Ikeda in Lae.
The police said new trends in gun smuggling have become sophisticated, making it difficult to find the criminals.
In March 2012, Lae customs and police officers seized a 20-foot container from Philippines and found 4 pistols and 19 magazines packed in a safe, addressed to 38-year-old Indonesian property and maintenance manager, Yoshi Kuni Ikeda in Lae.
The case that has dragged into its second year saw Yoshi Kuni Ikeda appear in court today following his alleged involvement in smuggling unlicensed firearms into Papua New Guinea.
The case may continue on until the end of this week.
Police and customs officials say they have busted a possible cross border crime syndicate involving gun trade and trafficking. But that’s just being the tip of the iceberg, they say.
What has been a worry for PNG Customs and police intelligence is the trend of gun smuggling that is becoming more sophisticated, posing a serious security threat for the country.
About a month ago, the Madang police intercepted a shipment of high-powered rifles in Madang’s Bogia district.
The guns, believed to have been smuggled into the country through the PNG Indonesia border, were bound for the highlands.
The police believe that the illegal importing of firearms are just a small piece of a larger and well-organized crime syndicate.
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