LEADER of Opposition Hon Matthew Wale says serious collaborative efforts need to be done to establish the international drug smuggling routes into the country.
The Opposition Leader highlighted in Parliament early this week following a response from the Police Minister Hon Jimson Tanangada on abandoned submarine vessels found in our waters.
Hon Wale asked a question in Parliament to the Police Minister on the RSIPF findings of the abandoned submarine vessels.
Minister Tanangada informed Parliament that two vessels were discovered one in Isabel province and one in Malaita province.
According to the Police Minister, findings have showed that the submarines were believed to be transporting drugs into the country.
The revelation by the Police Minister has raised serious concerns from the Opposition bench as the findings have yet to establish where the submarines were originated.
The Opposition Leader said a thorough analysis must be done to establish where the submarines originated.
“There are suspicions that it must have been originated from Columbia and to the pacific and it is very important that collaborative efforts are done between RSIPF and our neighbouring countries,” Hon Wale said.
He said Solomon Islands currently has a serious drug problem and it will only get worse if we do not track down the smugglers.
“We need tougher laws to deal with this and that is why it is urgent to bring the amendment to the penal code with urgency,” the Opposition Leader said.
The Police Minister also informed Parliament that Solomon Islands share international borders with other countries where there are high transhipments of illegal drugs.
Minister Tanangada said they are working with the international partners to ascertain the routes.
“We cannot substantiate if the vessels were meant to travel to Solomon Islands or overload in one of the neighbouring countries and drifted to our shores,” he said.
The Opposition Leader thanked the Police Minister for informing Parliament on the findings urging them to make sure these people are caught and face tough penalties.
– Opposition Press
