BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Police officers in Buala, Isabel Province will investigate the Narco-sub boat that villagers towed ashore on Thursday, July 31, 2025.
Provincial Police Commander (PPC) of Isabel Province, Harry Poutz Vanosi spoke to Island Sun about this on Friday, August 1, 2025.
Buala police have only recently learned of this discovery following an inquiry by Island Sun regarding the rumours, which indicated that weapons were discovered within one of the secured booths of the vessel yesterday.
Villagers of Goveo, on Thursday, July 31, at 6 am, spotted the narco-sub boat at Kikita reef, Goveo, Kokota ward in West Maringe district.
PPC Vanosi, in his response to Island Sun said he had just received the information and will follow up on it.
He said he was aware about the issue only after returning to Buala from Honiara on Thursday, 31st July, 2025.
PPC Vanosi furthered that he requires adequate information before sending his officers to the location.
In a phone interview with a 24-year-old male, who identified himself as Son son, on Friday, August 1, 2025, he told the paper to clarify claims regarding the boat having a room and that firearms were discovered within it after it was opened on Thursday night.
“Inside the boat, there exists a very narrow corridor. Shorter individuals can stand upright and walk, whereas taller individuals must lower themselves to walk through. What was described as a room is not a room. Rather, it is two large, sealed, box-like structures located at both the front and back of the boat. These may be its fuel tank. But I cannot confirm this as they are completely sealed and have no lock attached to them,” said Son son.
“These two sealed, box-like structures have not yet been opened. They remain as they are since I went there yesterday morning,” he added.
Son son said the boat now anchors at Paloho Point, close to Goveo village and the villagers have already removed the boat’s engines.
This is the same boat MP for Lau/Mbaelelea constituency, Ben Maenu and his crew discovered floating off Ramos Island around 5 pm on Monday, July 28, 2025, during a fishing trip to Isabel Province.
Items recovered from the submarine include clothing and a voter ID card featuring a photo of a Black individual, and Spanish words, with the only word familiar to the locals being “San Francisco”.
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