5 May 2014

PNG says no African criminal influence

4:24 pm on 5 May 2014

A Papua New Guinea police commander says there is no evidence of West African drug gangs operating on the border with Australia in the Torres Strait.

SBS reports that Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison last week warned that African organised criminal groups in PNG were an emerging threat.

The just released Australian Crime Commission's annual Illicit Drug Report, makes no mention of PNG or the Torres Strait.

Mr Morrison has been quoted by the Courier Mail saying he plans to plug the gap and match the criminals with a fleet of new boats for high-speed pursuits up -rivers and over reef systems.

But SBS reports the Western Province police commander Chief Inspector Silva Sika saying drugs and gun smuggling mostly originate in the Highlands region.