Captured drone now with Bougainville Police & will be returned

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) confirms that it is working with Bougainville Police for the return of the drone captured by PNG fishermen at the western border after a sea drama last week.

Commissioner of Police Mostyn Mangau told journalists today that the matter (captured drone) was brought to the attention of Bougainville Police who attended to the issue and recovered the drone which is now in their custody at with Arawa Police.

“Currently we are working with our partners (Bougainville Police) on the protocols to return the drone to our side,”

he said.

Mangau said police is also talking to Bougainville about the current status of the SI/PNG border especially the State of Public Emergency which now exists on SI side.

The drone was captured by Bougainvillean fishermen after the RSIPF flown it to take images of the Papua New Guineans during an argument on the border. Reports say the drone was coming to land on the RSIPF boat when the Bougainvilleans used paddle to bring it into the sea into PNG waters. They then took the drone and escaped with it into their side of the border.

News@SBMOnline2020