Nine missing at sea

 TWO women are among nine people reported missing after they left Manus two weeks ago but have yet to reached their destination in Wewak, East Sepik.

Acting provincial police commander Snr Insp David Yapu, said yesterday the people were travelling from Lorengau to Wewak on Feb 14 but failed to reach their destination in Wewak the next day as expected.

He said the nine people, includingtwo women and seven men, travelled in two boats. The last contact they made on Feb 14 was at Bipi Islands.

Yapu said the group were returning to Wewak after selling betel nuts in Lorengau. They were believed to have had in their possession a substantial amount of money, K30,000, they made from the sale of betelnustin Lorengau.

“Police believe they have either gone missing in sea or suspected a sea piracy, meaning they could have been held up,robbed and left stranded on one of the islands,” Yapu said.

He said police received information on the missing people and a team of police officers left in two boats to conduct search.