The joint law enforcement operation between Customs, Quarantine, Honiara City Council and Police to tackle criminal activity on the Harbour and Central Markets continued today.
The operation known as 'Operation Clean Harbour' was established to stop a number of illegal activities occurring between foreign fishing vessels and the public.Various NGO groups that have conducted independent studies have found that there are risky and illegal practices currently taking place. Police, Customs and Quarantine officers patrolled Honiara Harbour yesterday to determine if any laws were being breached.
A joint patrol of officers from the different law enforcement agencies boarded one tuna fishing vessel yesterday afternoon and found six Solomon Islands females on board allegedly hiding behind locked doors.
The six females, all of different age, are currently assisting police with their enquiries. Police will be fully investigating the circumstances and reasons for the females being onboard.
The operation will continue.