Defence officers have caught an Indonesian boat carrying illegal firearms into Vanimo, West Sepik Province.
Pictures of the weapons supplied by a MiRpota in Vanimo showed what appeared to be a homemade weapon. They were found in the possession of two crew members on the vessel.
Instances of illegal arms smuggling along the PNG-Indonesia border are common with the PNGDF unable to adequately contain the problem.
Executive Chairman of the Papua New Guinea Border Development Authority, Fred Konga told EMTV MiRipot that one of their biggest challenge is stemming the flow of illegal crossings along the maritime border.
He said , that illegal crossings are usually at night by boat.
The Government under a K100 million funding from the Asian Development Bank will open a processing facility in December. The building will house the Papua New Guinea Customs Agency and the National Agriculture and Quarantine Inspection Authority officers.
He also said that Defence officers will have on-site accommodation at the Wutung Border. The camp site will cater for 20 soldiers.
