26 Feb 2024 | 11:16 AM UTC
Papua New Guinea: Australian pilot and two local victims of kidnapping relased in Hela Province, Feb. 26
Australian pilot among kidnap victims freed near Mount Sisa, Hela Province, Papua New Guinea, Feb. 26. Abduction risk remains moderate.
Authorities have rescued three kidnap victims, including an Australian pilot, after they were kidnapped for ransom near Mount Sisa, Hela Province, Feb. 26. An armed group reportedly abducted the foreigner and two local subcontractors shortly after their landing near a remote telecommunications facility on the afternoon of Feb. 26. The hostages were safely rescued with no injuries. Security operations continue in the area to apprehend the kidnappers.
Heightened security is likely to continue in the coming hours. Associated localized transport disruptions due to police roadblocks and searches are likely. Armed clashes and gunfighting cannot be ruled out if suspects resist arrest.
Heed all official instructions. If clashes break out nearby, immediately leave the area for a secure building. Carry proper identification documents to present at security checks. Remain non-confrontational if approached by security officers. Plan for localized ground travel delays in the affected area.
The threat of kidnapping remains moderate in Papua New Guinea. The most common types of abduction in Papua New Guinea include basic opportunistic kidnap-for ransom, high net worth kidnap-for-ransom, and those related to personal, communal, or criminal disputes. Victims are usually released unharmed and relatively quickly but could face the threat of injury during confinement. Kidnappings are more likely to target locals. Nevertheless, abductions of foreign nationals have occurred in recent years, with a similar kidnap-for-ransom case occurring in Hela Province's Mount Bosavi in February 2023; four researchers, including a New Zealand native, were rescued by security forces after being held for five days. The risk of kidnapping for foreigners is relatively higher in the Highlands region, where known criminal gangs operate.
