645 ILLICIT MATERIALS DESTROYED BY CENSORSHIP

CAPTION: Police officers burning the illicit materials today.

BY LETHISA KOLOKOL

SIX Hundred and forty-five prohibited physical items such as pornographic materials, sex-enhancement products, and organic products were destroyed today by the Office of Censorship.

The materials were seized at customs checkpoints and Post offices and were later confiscated by the Office of Censorship over the past six months.

Prior to the destruction exercise, Chief Censor Jim Abani explained to the media that under the Classification of Publications (censorship) Act 1989, the agency is responsible for removing offensive, harmful, and illegal content to protect the public’s moral, ethical, and physical well-being.

Destruction excecise of offensive, harmful, and illegal content is to protect the public’s moral, ethical, and physical well-being.

According to Mr Abani, the office of censorship has the mandate to confiscate and destroy or burn illicit materials.

FM100 News traveled with Office of Censorship together with police officers and other News reporters to the burning site on the outskirts of Port Moresby to witness the destruction of these illicit materials.

The 645 items that were destroyed today include artificial sex stimulants, drugs, creams and gels.

Most of the items were purchased online and were shipped into the country but fortunately were confiscated by PNG Customs.

Mr Abani thanked the PNG Customs, Post PNG, Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary for their continued support to ensure the destruction of the these materials.

The Chief Censor stressed that these materials are not only illegal in the country but also pose health risk to people that use them.

The office of censorship will continue to work with its partners to monitor the importation and distribution of prohibited materials and reminds the public to comply with the Classical of Publication (Censorship) Act 1898.