PAPUA NEW GUINEA’S 300-Car Capers: APEC Edition
What’s the deal? Though the world’s leaders were busy shaking hands in Sydney, the real drama unfolded in Port Moresby, where nearly three hundred imported cars—think slick Maserati Quattroportes, Land Cruisers, Fords, Mazdas, and Pajeros—were handed out to officials for the APEC summit. Now, the police are on a scavenger hunt to snap up the missing fleet.
The High-Profile Looting
- 284 cars hit the drift – officials loaned these rides, but most have vanished since the November gathering.
- Luxury spotlight – the 40 Maseratis and a trio of Bentleys? Those shine bright; they’re locked safely in an old wharf shed.
- Not all gone – a handful of high-end gems have been recovered, but the rest sits in limbo.
Superintendent Dennis Corcoran, commander of the State Asset Recovery Unit, explains the mishap: “Nine of these beauties were stolen, parts pilfered, and a few ended up seriously battered.” He’s convinced the missing cars still lurk around Port Moresby and even in the rugged highlands of Mount Hagen.
The Public’s Big Bad Day
Why did people roll up in anger? When the Maseratis were flown in and parked on the airport tarmac, they looked like a Wall Street paradise. But back home, Papua New Guinea wrestles with poverty, potholes, and a polio outbreak—so it felt like a top‑grade luxury car parade amidst a disaster drama.
Government spokesperson Chris Hawkins tried to keep calm: “Hosting a global event is the name of the game, and many of these cars are out in government lots or being used by firefighters, paramedics, and other public servants.”
Police on a Determined Quest
Corcoran is armed with a master list mapping every vehicle’s current whereabouts. “I know exactly where all 284 cars that I need to recover are,” he says, confident the chase will end before the next big summit.
Final Thought
So, while world leaders were quarterbacking APEC, the local police are tackling a real-life treasure hunt—trying to bring home the missing cars before the next deck‑elated disaster kicks in. The stakes? Pride, public trust, and a dash of Aussie‑town intrigue.
