Recently, authorities in Papua New Guinea intercepted four Romanian men in Daru, Western Province, on suspicion of illegal entry.
According to the PNG police, the four Romanian nationals departed from the capital, Port Moresby, traveled overland to Kerema in Central Province, and then crossed maritime waters in a small boat with the help of local residents, arriving in Daru late at night on Friday, May 23.
“They were apprehended without resistance,” said a local law enforcement officer. The four individuals are currently being held at the Daru police station, and the case is under further investigation.
It is reported that officials from PNG’s Immigration and Citizenship Authority will travel to Daru this week to interview the detainees, verify their identities, and assess their legal status in the country.
Not an Isolated Incident
Statistics show that since 2020, PNG authorities have intercepted 29 foreign nationals, most of whom were suspected of illegal fishing or attempting to use Saibai Island in the Torres Strait as a route to illegally enter Australia.
Experts point out that the frequency of such incidents reflects the complexity of transnational criminal activities in the region and exposes the real challenges faced in border control.
Due to its strategic geographical location, Daru and its surrounding waters have long been hotspots for illegal border crossings and maritime smuggling.
“Border security is a key area of long-term cooperation between Papua New Guinea and Australia,” said an official from PNG’s security department. “Combating transnational criminal networks and safeguarding our sovereignty and national security is a responsibility we cannot ignore.”
