Police operations in the Markham District of Morobe Province are expected to step up ahead of their usual routines following the donation of two new 10-seater Land Cruisers to the Mutzing Police Station.

The two vehicles were handed over yesterday morning under the Japan Grant Aid Program and the Special Police Assistance Program (SPAP), a Marape-Rosso Government-funded initiative.

The SPAP covers police infrastructure, re-fleeting, training, ICT, and uniforms. The program is aimed at strengthening policing capabilities nationwide ahead of the 2027 National General Election.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Logistics, Chief Superintendent Chris Smith, and Morobe Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Chief Superintendent Samson Siguyaru, handed over the vehicles and keys to Mutzing Station Commander, Inspector Dominic Liva.

The hand-over ceremony took place at the District Administration car park on Wednesday morning. It was witnessed by District CEO Mr. Willie Pilailo, local police personnel, and community leaders.

PPC Siguyaru stated that the additional fleet will significantly boost operational capacity, noting that the Mutzing Police Station has managed to run its operations effectively despite previously limited resources.

The station serves a population of more than 93,000 people across four Local Level Governments (LLGs)—Leron-Wantoat, Onga-Waffa, and Umi-Atzera—as well as the busy Okuk Highway.

"Previously, we had only one vehicle to cover the entire district," PPC Siguyaru said. "With these two new vehicles, we now have three. This means we can execute three operations simultaneously: highway patrols, patrols to remote LLGs, and community policing within Mutzing town."

He added that one vehicle will support highway patrol's extending from Markham to the borders of Madang and Eastern Highlands provinces, while the other will boost public safety unit operations.

ACP Smith emphasized that the re-fleeting exercise is part of the Police Commissioner's nationwide plan to ensure all districts are mobile and highly responsive.

Inspector Liva thanked the National Government, Police Commissioner David Manning, the Government of Japan, and the SPAP team for their ongoing support, reassuring them that the vehicles will be put to good use for the community.