PNG deports 23 Bangladeshis for visa breaches

10:46 am on 13 April 2018

Twenty-three Bangladesh nationals have been deported from Papua New Guinea for breaches of visa conditions.

PNG's Minister for Immigration and Border Security confirmed the group were picked up through joint agency spot checks in October of last year.

Explaining the length of time it has taken to deport them, Petrus Thomas said appropriate investigations had to be conducted after charges were laid on the so-called "non-citizens".

The minister said he was satisfied that there were serious breaches to PNG laws that warranted the removal of the Bangladeshis.

These include overstaying terms of visas or working in positions contrary to their visa and work permit among other offences.

The spot checks were conducted by personnel from Immigration, Customs, the Health and Labour departments as well as police targeted retail shops and wholesale businesses in Port Moresby.

Immigration and other agencies will investigate the businesses involved in recruiting the foreigners who breached their visas in PNG.