Death related to betel nut trading: Police

A CAR chase related to betel nut trading led to the death of a man whose vehicle went off the road along the Hiritano Highway last weekend, police say.
The death came after the killing of four men along the highway at Doa in Central last week.
The man killed, from Western Highlands, was driving to Port Moresby chased by a group from another Highlands province.
Central police commander Chief Insp Opai Tapp said the car chase started at Kerema town by a group mourning the killing of their relative at Doa.
“When the (group) heard that there was another group in Kerema looking for betel nut, they chased the group out of Kerema town,” he said.
Gulf acting administrator Lester Sauka confirmed the incident.
“The killing at Malalaua was related to betel nut.
“The deceased was a known betel nut trader in the province.”
Residents told police they saw the vehicles speeding past the Malalaua station.
It was the latest in a number of deaths linked to the trading of betel nut in Central and Gulf.
Police in Central continue to investigate the killing of four men last week, sparking panic for motorists and passengers using the Hiritano Highway.