Bribery and Corruption Plague Papua New Guinea’s Law Enforcement
A Culture of Corruption
A new report has revealed that law enforcement officials in Papua New Guinea regularly receive bribes to ignore human trafficking, drug trafficking, illegal arms trading, and fuel theft. The corruption is so rampant that some officers are even directly involved in these criminal activities.
Foreign Actors Play a Dominant Role
The report found that foreign actors, particularly Asian crime syndicates, play a dominant role in organized criminal activity in Papua New Guinea. These syndicates use the country as a hub for illegal activities due to its porous borders and lack of effective law enforcement.
Corruption is Widespread
The corruption is not limited to law enforcement officials. The report also found that private-sector actors, including those involved in logging, cooperate with criminal organizations and are vulnerable to money laundering. The government’s financial intelligence unit has been hindered by a lack of cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the FIU, making it difficult to prosecute money-laundering cases.
Economic Challenges
The economy of Papua New Guinea is heavily reliant on agricultural, forestry, fishing, and mining, but chronic youth unemployment remains a significant issue. More than three-quarters of the population is employed in the informal sector, which lacks regulation and enforcement, leading to widespread labor and sexual exploitation.
Government Efforts are Insufficient
The government has modestly increased its efforts to prevent trafficking, but the impact of these efforts has been hindered by a lack of resources and political will. Measures to prevent forced labor in the logging industry are negligible, and the government has not reported on its regulation of recruitment fees, which continue to contribute to debt-based coercion among foreign workers.
Media Freedom
The media environment in Papua New Guinea is relatively free, with journalists often criticizing the government and covering controversial topics like police brutality and state corruption. However, there have been some cases of targeted abuse towards journalists, and attacks on the media in general have increased slightly in recent years.
A Call to Action
This report highlights the urgent need for the Papua New Guinean government to take concrete steps to address corruption and strengthen its law enforcement agencies. The country’s citizens deserve a safe and secure environment, free from the scourge of organized crime.
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