A couple from the United States of America (USA) who illegally entered Papua New Guinea and engaged in alluvial mining with locals from the eastern coast of Central Bougainville were deported, the Minister for Immigration and Border Security Bryan Kramer said. The US citizens, Bradley and Christine Noffsinger, were arrested by police and immigration officials in Central Bougainville, detained, and deported to the US State of Los Angeles on the 12th of June. “The couple were deported because they entered the country through an unauthorized port of entry without legal entry permits,” Minister Kramer said. “The couple entered South Bougainville through Solomon Islands onboard a small boat loaded with alluvial mining equipment.” Immigration movement records show that the couple lawfully visited PNG at least three times in the last ten years. Their first visit was in 2012 and second in 2013 where they spent at least two weeks engaging with local people doing alluvial mining in Wau, Morobe province. In 2015, the couple made a third visit and stayed for eight days in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville where they made connections with ‘people of interests’ to do alluvial mining on the east coast of Central Bougainville. Minister Kramer said that following that Bougainville connection, the couple tried to smuggle alluvial mining equipment into Bougainville in 2016 which were confiscated by Solomon Islands Authorities at the maritime border. “That same year, the couple made another trip to PNG but were denied entry at Jacksons International Airport after an alert was placed on their movement,” he said. With no access into PNG, the couple decided to cross the border illegally. In September 2020, they loaded their small boat with undocumented alluvial mining equipment and sailed into South Bougainville through the Tonolei harbor where they were apprehended and charged for unlawful entry. The undeclared assets they brought in were forfeited to the State. “The PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority (PNGICA) has a duty of care and provided hotel accommodation to the couple during the Covid-19 period and the closure of international borders. We gave them the option to voluntarily return, but after all means were exhausted, we deported them,” Minister Kramer said. He thanked the Chief of Bougainville Police Services and its officers for the positive collaboration with the PNGICA in apprehending the couple, and for their continuous support in addressing border issues. The Chief Migration Officer, Stanis Hulahau, is appealing to PNG citizens and residents to ensure foreigners invited to the country to engage in businesses obtain the appropriate permits, including registration of their entities with the relevant regulatory bodies. The PNGICA is now strictly enforcing its mandated duties and those found to have breached the laws will be appropriately dealt with.