Eight people have been charged with attempting to import about 100kg of marijuana, with a street value of about $60,000, from Papua New Guinea

Eight people have been charged with attempting to import about 100kg of marijuana, with a street value of about $60,000, from PNG.
No drugs have been recovered, contrary to reports in the southern media that a significant amount had been seized.Delivery of the drugs to two men, who were the subject of a massive search and rescue operation on July 7, apparently broke down in PNG and were returning to Badu empty-handed when they ran into difficulties, Police said.The men were rescued by an Australian Customs helicopter the next day and their boat was searched. Detective Sergeant Garry Hunter from the Drug Squad told the Torres News that not all eight were involved directly with the attempted importion of the drugs."Some of the others were involved in other ways. One loaned a boat in return for a cut of the proceeds; he knew what the boat was being used for, therefore he also is involved but indirectly."A total of 17 people has been charged with 19 separate drug offences, not associated with the importation cases.
Two also were charged with stealing, three with producing cannabis and six with being in possession.Police said the amounts were only small, and all involved two-gram packets, which sell for $50 on the island. One of those charged had three of the bags when detained.Badu Island’s Councillor Wayne Guivarra says the number of arrests is a snapshot of more-serious underlying problems within the community, such as a lack of housing, unemployment, child abuse, despression, alcohol abuse and a general feeling of hopelessness.
"Many think alcohol abuse is a far more-serious problem within the community than marijuana.
"I would bet most of those involved are from the lower end of the socio-economic ladder, and I hope the courts protect these people from severe financial punishment.
"The shame factor will be a huge punishment in itself."
Cr Guivarra said PNG families who visit the Torres Strait will now automatically come under suspicion from authorities and even communities.
"That will apply to descent, honest people, and we know there are huge numbers of people from PNG who visit families and for other reasons, across the Torres Strait."
Det. Sgt Hunter says drugs in the Torres Strait is a "recognisable problem".
"From our perspective, we have put some drug-reduction strategies in place in the Torres Strait that we hope will prevent potentially heavier drugs from coming into the area.
"Cannabis problems potentially lead to other heavier, more-dangerous drugs, such as speed, ecstasy and amphetamines.
"We’ve made seizures in Cairns of ecstasy which was bound for Badu and amphetamines for Cape York. The ecstasy seizure involved 30 tablets; that’s more than personal use."
Det. Sgt Hunter said the impact of the drug charges would be that it would attract people’s attention and make them think about importing or using drugs.
"Police have been sitting down and discussing the use and trafficking of drugs with communities who now understand it’s quite alright to ring Crime Stoppers or report to Police about people doing the wrong thing."
The operation involved the Police Drug Squad, Customs and the Thursday Island CIB.
A joint statement said Police and Customs Service are working with Torres Strait communities to stop the cannabis trade networks between the Torres Straits and nearby Papua New Guinea communities.Detective Inspector John Hartwell, Far Northern Regional, Crime Coordinator, said he was pleased that a recently launched project, Weed it Out, appeared to be helping in the reduction of cannabis trade."As part of the project we are working with Indigenous communities to combat the use of cannabis sativa in these communities. "Police have been familiarising the locals with reporting mechanisms, such as Crime Stoppers, to report criminal activity like drug importation and trafficking.

"Customs have also thrown their support behind the project and are working with police and communities to achieve a common goal. The Queensland Police Service is committed to supporting the Indigenous communities of the region in their bid to combat substance abuse."Far Northern Drug Squad investigators will continue to visit the Torres Strait to act as a deterrent to offenders and also build rapport with community partners who support the project," Det. Insp. Hartwell said.Customs Director Enforcement Operations Regional Queensland John Kerlin said Australian Customs had a major presence in the Torres Strait region, with a network of highly trained officers, backed up by a fleet of patrol boats and extensive aerial surveillance.
"We are constantly on the lookout and conducting operations to apprehend anyone attempting to smuggle illegal items into the country.
"Anyone trying to smuggle anything into Australia from Papua New Guinea faces the very real risk of being caught" Mr Kerlin said.