Armed gang steals gold bars and cash from security convoy in Port Moresby

Police in Papua New Guinea are investigating an armed robbery in Port Moresby after attackers intercepted two private security vehicles carrying gold and cash. The convoy was stopped in the early morning on Wednesday, and the thieves escaped with 25 gold bars, 315,000 kina in cash, and two firearms. Police say the case may rank among the country's biggest robberies by value.

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Police Commissioner David Manning said the hold-up happened at about 4:30am as the vehicles were travelling through the city. According to the account given to police, the convoy had left its security base shortly after 4:30am and was heading towards Papua New Guinea's international airport via the Poreporena Freeway. The vehicles then came upon what appeared to be a staged roadblock, before being intercepted by unknown vehicles.

The stolen gold included 20 bars from the Porgera Gold Mine in Enga province, which is operated by New Porgera Limited, and five bars from Golden Valley Enterprise Limited, a gold buying and exporting firm based in Lae. Also taken were a pump-action shotgun and a carbine belonging to the security crew. Police have not yet confirmed the exact weight or purity of the bars, but a senior police source has described the theft as one of the largest in the country's history in terms of the value of gold stolen.

The robbery is significant because it involved bullion linked to two separate commercial sources and a large amount of cash, suggesting a level of planning and coordination. Gold thefts can have wider implications for mining operations, transport security and the movement of high-value goods through the capital. The incident also raises questions about the vulnerability of cash-in-transit and bullion transport routes in a city that serves as the country's main administrative and transport hub.

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The Porgera mine is one of Papua New Guinea's best-known gold operations, and the involvement of gold from Enga province underlines the national importance of the shipment. The fact that the convoy was carrying material from both a mine operator and a gold buying and exporting company suggests the haul may have been assembled for commercial transfer rather than a routine local movement. Police have said the investigation is major, indicating that multiple agencies may be involved in tracing the attackers and the stolen property.

What remains unclear is how many people took part in the robbery, where the attackers fled, and whether any arrests have been made. Police have also not confirmed the full value of the stolen gold, which could be worth millions depending on weight and purity. The next developments to watch are whether investigators recover the bullion or identify the vehicles used in the interception, and whether the security arrangements for similar convoys are reviewed after the attack.

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