THREE suspects from Hela and Enga origins have been arrested and they are currently in police custody at the Tari Police Station in connection with the sale of counterfeit Gold in Tari, Hela province.
Hela Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Inspector Arau Mairi confirmed that the suspects are still in police custody and they would be charged formally when the police investigation is completed and relevant information is made available.
PPC Mairi said that on 25th August 2026, the members of the police Investigation Task Force (ITF) in Tari, acting on intelligence reports from his office, intercepted and detained three suspects in connection with the sale of counterfeit gold to a named Chinese businessman in Tari, Hela province.
Police alleged that on 21st August 2026 at approximately 10:27am a piece of gold weighing 109grams was sold to the Chinese businessman at his office in Tari for K202 000. The buyer later transported the item to Wabag, where it was confirmed to be counterfeit. The buyer was deceived and he had spent a total of K202 000 on counterfeit gold in prior transactions.
Police further alleged that on 25 August 2026, a named suspect conspired with his two named accomplices allegedly presented a second piece of counterfeit Gold weighing 1,245.5 grams, valued at K2,308,173.00, to the buyer again.
The buyer or Chinese businessman aggrieved by the earlier incident, alerted the PPC where the PPC notified the ITF who positioned members at the buyer’s office. Up on entry of the two suspects with the counterfeit gold, ITF members moved in and detained both suspects, recovering the item.
The buyer provided one of the suspects’ phone contact details to the ITF members where call log analysis confirmed recent communication between the detained suspects and the buyer’s phone number. The two suspects denied conspiring with the third suspect and refused to disclose his identity or whereabouts. Both suspects were transported to Tari Police Station and detained.
Police also alleged that on 25th August 2026 between 18:00 and 19:00 hours, the ITF members contacted the third suspect using the number provided by the buyer posing as his accomplices and the suspect believing he was speaking with his accomplices, agreed to meet them. The ITF members intercepted and apprehended him at the Papindo area and transported him to Tari Police Station, where his identity was confirmed and was detained.
PPC said the three suspects are now in police custody at Tari Police Station. He said the police Investigations indicate that millions of kina worth counterfeit gold may be circulating in Porgera and other mining areas of Enga, Hela and other Provinces as well.
PPC Mairi further stated that operational and intelligence efforts are required to identify and apprehend the producers and distributors of these counterfeit items. The police investigation is ongoing to identify additional counterfeit gold in circulation and trace the source.