Gulf police are the first provincial police command to have successfully implemented the new Controlled Substances Act, with Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector Jeffrey Lemb highlighting its severe penalties, leading to recent convictions of 12 drug dealers sentenced to 30 years each by the Kerema District Court. “Unlike previous drug laws, this one carries penalties rivalling those of rape and murder.” “On this occasion, seven people go 30 years each for conveying huge amounts of marijuana.” This marks a significant crackdown on drug offenses, with previous convictions totalling over 300 years, underscoring the province's commitment to combating drug-related crime. In 2023, Gulf police had a similar major drug activity bust. “The first drug cases saw a combined conviction years exceeding 300 years in imprisonment (and) the current cumulative total for this court sentence is 281 years for the 12 defendants.” Among the 12 convicted individuals is Paulaus Ekali, from Sembirigi in Erave District, Southern Highlands who was arrested by Kikori police at Delta Market for possession of controlled substances, found with 13.5 grams of marijuana in a medicine plastic, in his bilum. Also among the convicted individuals are Able Kama and Samu Pup from Kiluwe village in the Hagen district of Western Highlands, apprehended with five blocks of marijuana weighing 8.35 kg concealed within four 50 kg tobacco bags, who were charged with drug trafficking on February 21 after their arrest on February 20. Both are married – Kama, a father of four and Pup has three children. Another individual, an unemployed father of one, Andabe Timothy from Tari-Pori in Hela, was found with 21 packs of marijuana for sale at K2 each, totaling 11.6 grams, resulting in his conviction for drug trafficking. Another prisoner is Ben Wa, from Niai village, Erave, Southern Highlands, an unemployed father of four with no prior conviction who was residing at Pepeke settlement in Kikori, when police apprehended him con February 25 between 7 and 8pm. Wa was charged on February 28 with trafficking a controlled substance when police discovered in his bilum two separate blocks of marijuana wrapped up in white A4 size papers weighing 185.2 grams, along with K520 cash from the sale of marijuana. Kikori police also apprehended some of these prisoners on board a 40-horse-powered outboard motor dinghy with 6.28 kg of marijuana. One of them is Waks Anu, an unemployed father of four, who was then residing in Bekona settlement in Daru, charged with dealing with a controlled substance under section 62 (3) (b) of the Controlled Substances Act 2021 and having said controlled substance under section 63 (3) (a). Police apprehended him on March 1 between 8 and 9 am at Titoti in Kikori. He was formally charged on March 3 at Kikori police station. Another prisoner is a street seller, Willie Osei, from Yanguri village in Erave, Southern Highlands, who was residing at Wabuda Kona in Daru, Western Province, and married with two children. He was charged with dealing with a controlled substance (marijuana) weighing 6.28 kg under Section 62(3) (b) of the Controlled Substance Act 2021. The other charges he was convicted on and sentenced to were dealing with a controlled substance under Section 62(1) (b) of the Controlled Substance Act 2021], and trafficking said controlled substance under Section 68(1) (b) of Controlled Substance Act 2021 and being in possession of said weighted controlled substance under section 63(3) (a) of Controlled Substance Act 2021]. Police said the offence took place at Titoti, Kikori between 8 and 9am on March 1, with police formally charging him two days later. Also among those apprehended and convicted were David Kende Reali, an unemployed 30-year-old from Idawi village in Hela province, and Gebbie Tangi, a 40-year-old driller at Habors Drilling Company in Hides, Hela Province, who has two children, and was the only one with formal employment among the prisoners, already earning a K2, 000 plus salary from his job. Additionally, Awai Omere, a 24-year-old unemployed resident of Kowabu village in Western Province, and Yalo Pima, a father of three from Tupiri village in Southern Highlands, were arrested and charged with drug-related offenses, further highlighting the widespread nature of the illicit drug trade in the region. Another prisoner, a father of three, Yalo Pima, from Tupiri village, in Mendi district in Southern Highlands, was residing at Kekea village in Kikori, when he was apprehended on January 26 and charged under Section 86 (1)(c) of the Controlled Substance Act 2021 for trafficking 46 rolled-up K2 packs of marijuana weighing a total of 33.2grams. Police found on him a black and yellow waist bag containing 46 K2 packs of marijuana wrapped with golden smoke papers and weighing a total of 33.2 grams, together with a sales cash of K156 from the sale of marijuana. Gulf PPC Lemb said court exhibits used to convict the prisoners, found by Kikori police included a black traveling bag containing 9 large blocks of marijuana wrapped in a white plastic wrapper and weighing a total 4.18Kg; a white bucket with green lead containing five (5) large blocks of marijuana weighing a total of 1.89Kg; a white bucket with white lead containing three (3) large rolls, two (2) medium size packs, 39 rolled K5 packs in exercise book pages and 14 rolled K2 packs in aluminium foil all containing marijuana and placed in a 1Kg roots rice plastic, all weighing a total of 0.21Kg. The 12 suspects were caught between 26th January and 1st March 2024 in Kikori District by Kikori Police, and following their successful conviction and sentencing, PPC Lemb reiterated his warning to people facilitating, conveying, or transporting to sell and distribute marijuana (controlled substances) that his police will continue to monitor Gulf and its bordering provinces. “We have a very dedicated bunch of personnel who stop at nothing to ensure that the bad people in society are caught, diligently dealt with, and put away from the society.” “Especially Kikori Police Station personnel who have tirelessly worked night and day to successfully put this group of criminals behind bars.” “As anyone can see, Gulf Province is not a favorable place to do the illegal drug business.” “They can either quit or take their business elsewhere.” “You come to Gulf to do your illegal drug business; you will regret it big time.”