The Governor of Papua New Guinea's Gulf province says police are deliberately ignoring the growing trade of drugs for guns in the Southern Highlands and neighbouring regions.
Chris Haiveta says his province has been without a proper police force since March
He says since then the trafficking of drugs and guns has been increasing in provincial borders along the Southern Highlands where the trade originates.
He says he's called on the police minister to send officers to patrol the provincial borders but that's been met with indifference.
Mr Haiveta says his people are smoking marijuana openly in villages and youths are armed with high powered weapons.
"There is no effective surveillance by police to sort out the network and the routes that exist since there is a deliberate attempt to ensure that the borders of the Gulf is not policed properly.The result of course is that the guns are easily available here in the province as well as marijuana."
PNG's Gulf Governor, Chris Haiveta
