The PNG highlands Photo: Supplied
The Papua New Guinea police says it will use "whatever means necessary" against "criminals" who have kidnapped four people.
Police Commissioner David Manning said one foreign national and three PNG university students are being held by the gang in the border region of Southern Highlands, Hela and Western Provinces.
The ABC is reporting that the foreign national is an Australian professor.
Manning said it is a delicate situation and police, in coordination with other security elements, are engaged in an operation to enable the safe release of the people involved.
He said the area is remote and air support has been approved.
Papua New Guinea's Police Commissioner David Manning is the Controller of the country's State of Emergency during the covid-19 pandemic. Photo: PNG PM Media
Manning said police are authorised to use the full force of the law to secure the people being held and to immobilise and apprehend the criminals.
"Security personnel are operating within their set rules of engagement in dealing with these criminals, with the safety of the innocent being their top priority.
"Our specialised security force personnel will use whatever means necessary against the criminals, up to and including the use of lethal force, in order to provide for the safety and security of the people being held," Manning said.
Manning said it is understood the criminals sighted the men being held by chance and took them into the bush.
"These are opportunists who have obviously not thought this situation through before they acted, and have been asking for cash to be paid.
"However, we are offering the abductors a way out. They can release their captives and they will be treated fairly through the criminal justice system, but failure to comply and resisting arrest could cost these criminals their lives."