Police operation to apprehend a criminal gang responsible for a spate of serious crimes in the Raikos District of Madang Province is currently underway after their deployment into the area yesterday by helicopter.
The operation consists of 21 police officers including 10 members of the Northern Mobile Group and 11 members of Madang Police.
Assistant Commissioner of Operations for Northern Command Peter Guinness told this newsroom that the planned operation will be carried out for two weeks where they will go into the areas where the suspects are believed to be in and possibly make arrests.
“People in the area came forward yesterday with information when police officers touched down and we have good leads at the moment,” Mr Guinness said.
“The Newtribe Mission who had an establishment in the area has also assisted with information on the suspects’ location.”
“This “Hetwara Gang” has been causing terror to the villagers for some time now and police have been handicapped with logistics capacity as the area is very remote and only accessible by air.”
“But we have prepared a plan and are now executing that. Until it is accomplished, I won’t say anything further on that,” Mr Guinness said.
Meanwhile the Assistant Commissioner of Operations said the Madang Provincial Government and Raikos District Administration are squarely responsible to address this issue however have not made any commitments to date.
Image Source: Manolos Aviation