Weapons

Witnesses said the aircraft had come down in a ball of flames near the city of Kavala before exploding on impact in corn fields around midnight local time. Earlier the pilot had reported engine trouble and had requested an emergency landing.

Drone images from the scene showed smouldering debris from the Antonov An-12 aircraft strewn across fields.

Ukrainian-based airline Meridian, which operated the aircraft, confirmed that all eight crew members had died in the crash. Ukraine's foreign ministry said they were all Ukrainian citizens.

The role of the Ministry of Police and Prisons in ensuring that Samoa is protected from criminal offenses in the possession of marijuana and drugs as well as the illegal possession of firearms cannot end. , as the Commissioner of Police, Fuiavailili Egon Keil.

"This morning, police raided several families in Faleatiu and Fasito'o-uta and seized large quantities of marijuana, pipes used for smoking drugs, money and more than $ 1000, laptops, mobile phones, firearms, ammunition, handcuffs and agaes, ”said Fuiavailili according to a report in the Savali newspaper.

Social media itself was bombarded with all sorts of comments against the events that transpired, including the burning of Air Niugini’s subsidiary, Link PNG Services Dash 8 aircraft.

The Government, in response, declared an extension of the State of Emergency, approving K6 million funding and a call out for PNG Defence Force soldiers.

The NEC than made a pre-emptive decision to suspend the Southern Highlands Provincial Government.

It includes over 10,000 assault rifles, machine guns, pistols, revolvers, and 400 shells and grenades.

The guns and ammunition were seized in January during an operation against firearms trafficking.

Investigators also found an illegal workshop with machinery to manipulate and reactivate weapons, near Bilbao. Five people were arrested.

Cash amounting to 80,000 euros (£70,000 / $85,000) was seized.

The operation involved counter-terror police from Madrid, Bilbao, Valencia and Gerona.