Sanctuary Hotel-turned drug lab

News that matter in Papua New Guinea

Sanctuary Hotel-turned drug lab

PORT MORESBY: Police have busted a drug trafficking and Methamphetamine (meth) manufacturing underground operation based in Sanctuary Hotel here.

In a raid on the hotel on Tuesday (Nov 16, 2021) morning, police seized five firearms, several round of ammunition of various calibre, meth, cannabis, ingredients and utensils used for manufacturing meth in several rooms.

Police Comm, David Manning said hotel owner Jaime Pang, 43, had been arrested, detained for investigations and charged in the Boroko district court.

Pang pleaded guiolty to all 11 charges before magistrate Garry Unjo on Friday (Nov 19, 2021).

Unjo fixed Friday (Nov 26, 2021) for sentencing.

Details of the news break were reported by The National:

Hotel-turned drug lab

November 22, 2021The NationalMain Stories

 Methampetamine processing utensils and chemical found in a room at The Sanctuary Hotel in Port Moresby.. – Pictures supplied

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
POLICE have busted a drug trafficking and Methamphetamine (Meth) underground operation based in The Sanctuary Hotel.
In a raid on the hotel on Tuesday morning, police seized five firearms, several rounds of ammunition of various calibre, meth, cannabis, ingredients and utensils used for manufacturing meth in several rooms.
Police Comm David Manning said hotel owner Jaime Pang, 43, had been arrested, detained for investigations and charged in the Boroko district court.

Hotel room used as a Meth lab.

Pang pleaded guilty to all charges before Magistrate Garry Unjo on Friday.
Unjo fixed Friday for submissions on sentencing while Pang’s lawyers will submit an application for bail on Wednesday.
In a police video, Pang, who is also the hotel’s operations manager, was standing next to ACP (special operations) Donald Yamasombi and heard saying “there is a whole lot of bigger things at play”.
Comm Manning told The National on Friday morning that Papua New Guinea was becoming a “safe house” for drug traffickers with inadequate drug laws to prosecute those nabbed.

Meth processing utensils

He said following the arrest of Sean Anthony Honey, 31, in operation “Saki Bomb” in late September, another arrest under the same operation was made last Tuesday and Pang was detained after the raid and seizure of firearms and drugs.
Pang was slapped with 11 charges, three for possession of firearms without licence, two for possession of firearm and six charges for possession of live ammunition.
Comm Manning described the discovery of a “clandestine laboratory” as a job well done by the team who consisted of police and Customs personnel.
“The team continues to work towards the goal of ensuring all those involved in the underground drug trafficking syndicates will be dealt with,” he said.
“Search warrants were obtained and executed at the raid on the hotel in Port Moresby’s North Waigani.”
Comm Manning said five rooms were searched, including the room occupied by Pang and accessible only by code.

Unlicensed firearms/ammunitions.

“Upon entry, three handguns, loaded with 9mm and 40 calibre live round of ammunition, 12 gauge cartridges, 5.56mm live ammunition, 9mm live ammunition, 40 calibre live ammunition, precursor materials and equipment, including high powered rifle magazines loaded with live ammunitions and some quantity of white substance believed to be illicit meth,” he said.
An opposite room was also searched and the illegal drug processing laboratory was discovered.”
Comm Manning said a forensic team and scientist entered the room and found quantities of meth, precursor materials, meth production utensils, cannabis and four firearms wrapped in old clothes under a bed.
“Outside in what is known as a storage facility for the hotel, 12 gauge cartridges, .22 live ammunition and other items were seized by police.”

1.5kg of epridrine hydrochloride the precursor that’s added to amphitheatre base to produce Meth.

Cop: PNG needs tough drug laws

November 22, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By JAMES GUKEN
DWU journalism student
ASSISTANT Commissioner (special operations) Donald Yamasombi says it is time for lawmakers to enact tougher laws for the police to arrest and charge those found in possession of dangerous drugs such as methamphetamine.
He made the call on Friday after police crippled an illegal drug manufacturing operation at The Sanctuary Hotel last Tuesday.
ACP Yamasombi lamented that police did not have laws relating to drugs such as methamphetamine.
“Because we do not have legislations to deal with such illicit substances (methamphetamine), it makes our job extremely difficult,” he said.
“It is a slap in the face for us in the history of the police force to disrupt a clandestine laboratory and yet we cannot slap charges on the perpetrator because we do not have a legislation. I appeal lawmakers to look at passing laws to make our jobs more effective.
“We have good collaborations with line agencies but without appropriate legislations, it is a slap in our face. The matters are still pending in court so I cannot go further than that as investigations are also ongoing.”
Attorney-General and Justice secretary Dr Eric Kwa said, in June, that the drafting of the “control substances bill” was approved by the Government but it was yet to be tabled in Parliament.
Kwa had said: “The new control substance bill will cover cocaine, ice (crystal methamphetamine), all matter of drugs including the use of certain medicines for mixing and developing illegal drugs.”
ACP Yamasombi, in giving a run-down of “Operation Saki Bomb”, said investigations started in June.
“It all began in the US when Homeland Security investigators in Washington identified a consignment destined for Papua New Guinea and advised the Australian police office in Washington,” he said.
“Canberra was informed and Canberra tipped off Port Moresby.
“That is when we were alerted in June. We have been working on that (intelligence) up until September.
“We assembled a team from the PNG Customs and other units from within the police, we got the SSD (special services division), we got the water police and our own investigators from Lae and Madang.
“On Sept 17, we placed our surveillance on targets within the city (Port Moresby) and within the fringes of the city up until on Oct 2 when we executed the first warrant on a known location in the city.
“And we entered the premises of BSA Construction in Baruni and seized the imported items and made the first arrest – an Australian for smuggling under the PNG Customs Act.
“At the same time, we uncovered unlicensed firearms and unlicensed ammunitions.
“He is now facing seven charges related to unlicensed firearms and unlicensed ammunitions.”
ACP Yamasombi said on Oct 26, we arrested another suspect who is a dual citizenship – the UK and PNG – who was charged with discharging a firearm.
“Oct 29, we arrested a Papua New Guinean, a Customs personnel who was charged with smuggling, aiding and abetting and for unlawfully acting as a Customs agent.
“Last Tuesday, we executed another search warrant on the hotel and arrested its operations manager after a mini clandestine methamphetamine processing laboratory was uncovered.
“Unfortunately, we could not lay charges on him relating to the substance (methamphetamine) but we seized a number of firearms and ammunitions that were unlicensed.
“He was slapped with 11 charges in total in the Boroko District Court and he pleaded guilty to all charges.”