By Vanessa Saun-FM100 NEWS

Eight suspects have been arrested so far including the prime suspect of an armed robbery at Papindo Aitape, West Sepik Province.

The group was apprehended by Police in neighboring East Sepik Province while they were attempting to flee following the incident that occurred on the morning of Monday July 22nd

The suspects are currently detained at the Wewak Police Station whilst investigations continue.

East Sepik Provincial Police Commander, Superintendent Albert Beli told this newsroom that Police in the province believe that there is about nine suspects involved in the robbery and that 1 is still on the run, including their accomplices.

PPC Beli says, according to reliable sources the group of men travelled into East Sepik from Lae to conduct robberies in the Province but could not succeed due to heavy police presence.

Hence, they are said to have hired a vehicle and travelled to Aitape in West Sepik Province where they robbed the Papindo shop and got away with about one hundred and fifty thousand kina in cash from the weekend takings plus other valuable items like mobile phones from the shop valuing up to fifty thousand kina.

All will be charged with one count of robbery while other charges are yet to be established pending investigations.

He adds most of the suspects are of mixed places of origins from the Momase Region.

Meantime, names of the suspects are yet to be released but all suspects captured by Police in East Sepik will be transferred to Aitape for further investigations by the Aitape Police as the robbery occurred there.