20 INMATES ESCAPE LAE POLICE STATION

By Martha LOUIS

Twenty detainees broke out of the Lae Central Police Station cell after cutting through a wire barrier with a smuggled tool. One has been recaptured near the oil market downtown, while 19 are still on the run.

Lae Metropolitan Commander Chief Superintendent Chris Kunyanban said the inmates had been planning the escape for some time. “The tool was smuggled in and used to cut through the barrier. This wasn’t done overnight—it took time,” he stated.

The breakout happened between midnight and early afternoon, coinciding with a shift change. Kunyanban explained that cell checks are done every two hours, and the prisoners took advantage of the routine.

He also pointed out that overcrowding is a major issue at the facility. “The cells were designed for 60 to 70 people, but we now hold over 100. We need better facilities to prevent this from happening again,” he said.

Police are working to confirm the identities of the escapees before releasing further details. Authorities have called on the public to assist in locating them, stressing the importance of their swift recapture.

An investigation is underway to determine how the tool was smuggled in and whether any security lapses contributed to the incident.