101 East

The Gangs of Papua New Guinea

We explore the violent underbelly of Port Moresby, one of the most dangerous cities in the world.

Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, is regularly ranked one of the most dangerous cities in the world.

From armed robberies and car-jackings to murders, the gangs who rule the streets are known to be ruthless. They often recruit young people from the countryside, who move to the city in a desperate bid to escape poverty. The gangs target the country’s wealthy elite, many of whom have become rich thanks to PNG’s rich natural resources.

With rare access to gang members and the police, 101 East explores PNG’s violent underbelly.