Port Moresby Police have completed 12 hours of a Special New Year Security Operation in the Nation’s Capital.
During the operation, a homemade pistol was confiscated; drunkard citizens cautioned and sent home and shops selling alcohol illegal were ordered to close.
This was one of the biggest police operations in Port Moresby as it involved officers from all eight police stations, the Traffic, Dog Unit and the Mobile Squad Directorates.
Though the eve of the New Year fell on a Sunday, it did not stop people from the usual style of welcoming a new year in the Nation’s Capital.
Police were out on full force to ensure people celebrated the New Year in the appropriate manner.
The 12-hour operation began at 6pm yesterday and continued into the night.
EMTV News, teamed up with the Dog Unit Directorate consisting of over 50 dog handlers including bomb and drug specialists.
They began the operation at selected hot spots where drugs are sold.
Random searches were conducted on suspicious individuals and market vendors were advised to stop their marketing before 10pm, last night.
The operation continued with a number of foot beats and inspections the sale of liquor at Morata, Ensisi Valley and Gerehu suburbans in the Moresby North West Electorate.
In Morata, a homemade pistol was confiscated.
Just minutes after the New Year, police patrolled the city and removed brunt tyres, old drums or parts of old vehicles which people had pushed onto the roads as part of the New Year Celebration.
Between 12 and 1am, no major crimes or accidents were reported except for alcohol related fights.
However around 3am, a senior member of the Mobile squad escaped what could be have been serious head injuries, after a huge rock was thrown at the vehicle he was driving.
The Police responded, caught the culprit and dealt with him.
The operations continued until 6am this morning, where a debrief was held to conclude the three weeks of the Security Operation for the 2017 Christmas and New Year and New Year.
