4 arrested for dynamite fishing, 7 live bombs discovered at home of fishermen

By Timothy Inifiri Jr.

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Forces’ Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team has arrested four adult male suspects on Monday for dynamite fishing in Northwest Guadalcanal.

Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau during his press conference today said that the activity is not right.

He also added that the arrests were done after the EOD team received information from the community and arrived at the location where the suspects just have returned from their fishing trip.

“Police have arrested the four men and have taken them to the Henderson Police Station with the assistance of Fisheries officers who formed part of the investigations into the issue”, said Commissioner Mangau.

Police and the EOD team have also conducted searches in the homes of the suspects where they discovered a total of seven bombs and a number of empty bomb shells probably used in some of their past fishing trips. The bombs were found in one of the suspects home.

“The EOD team have already removed those bombs and were transported to hell’s point”, said the Commissioner.

The Guadalcanal Police officers are still investigating the matter and the suspects were delt with and are currently released on bail while the investigations are continuing.

“We understand that it is a risk when we are carrying ammunitions and UXO into our homes”.

“These bombs are still alive, and any mistake will cost the lives of those living in the house and also the neighbors”, he said.

Commissioner Mangau urged the communities to inform to the police any sighting of individuals or citizen involved with those kinds of issues and stated that it causes threat to the persons family and even the general public.

News@SBMOnline2022