Papua New Guinea police investigate artillery projectile found at Port Moresby wharf
Police in Papua New Guinea are investigating after a large shell-shaped object was found in a commercial shipping container at a major wharf in Port Moresby. Officers and military explosives specialists secured the item and removed it for analysis after it was identified as a suspected artillery projectile. Four Chinese nationals were arrested and taken into custody on Friday in connection with the discovery.
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A police report seen by investigators identified the object as an undetonated 130mm Chinese Type 59 artillery projectile containing chemical explosives and a fuse. The report said the device weighed 32 kilograms and was examined using an X-ray machine donated by Australia to the Royal Papua New Guinea Police. Chinese embassy officials in Port Moresby, however, said a company linked to the incident had carried out an on-site verification and concluded the object was a shell-shaped wine bottle.
The embassy said it was keeping Papua New Guinea police fully updated while awaiting the outcome of the investigation. Police have not publicly detailed the circumstances in which the object entered the country, and the case has been referred to criminal investigators. The discovery at a busy commercial port has raised questions about cargo screening and the handling of potentially dangerous items entering the country through shipping containers.
The incident comes at a sensitive time for Papua New Guinea, which sits on a strategically important maritime route in the Pacific and relies heavily on imported goods moving through its ports. Any confirmed attempt to move a military-grade explosive through commercial freight would have implications for border security, customs controls and port safety. It also adds a diplomatic dimension because of the dispute between police findings and the Chinese embassy's account.
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The case has also drawn attention because of the broader security relationship in the region. Papua New Guinea has been strengthening cooperation with partners on defence and policing, while China has urged the country not to sign arrangements that could exclude third parties from cooperation. Police Commissioner David Manning previously praised officers involved in the response, saying they acted quickly after receiving information about the object.
What remains unclear is how the item was packed, who arranged its shipment and whether the police assessment will be upheld by further forensic testing. It is also not yet clear what charges, if any, the arrested men may face. The investigation is continuing, and officials are expected to provide more detail once analysis of the device is complete.
