17 Jan 2011

PNG launches security crackdown on Indonesian border

4:21 pm on 17 January 2011

Papua New Guinea has launched its biggest ever joint forces security crackdown on the border with Indonesia.

PNG's Acting Police Commissioner Anthony Wagambe said the massive effort will tackle one of the country's ongoing problems of border security mainly in Vanimo in West Sepik Province.

The Post Courier paper reports the $US 1.3million operation aims to address a range of security problems including human smuggling, gun trafficking, arms trade, resource poaching and threats on the lives of citizens.

The operation, code named Sunset Merona, has been sanctioned by the Prime Minister's Department through the National Security Advisory Committee Secretariat, and was officially launched at the weekend.