The Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ) is searching for a missing U.S. citizen identified as Paul Arthur Anderson.

Authorities said Anderson, 53, was reported missing Monday, Feb. 2, though he was last seen about a week earlier, on Tuesday, Jan. 27. Officials said he was last observed in a public area near the canton of Liberia in Guanacaste province.

Although the missing-person report was filed earlier this week, authorities did not immediately make the case public. Officials said the delay is not unusual, as investigators typically attempt to develop initial leads before seeking assistance from the public. Those early efforts produced limited results, prompting officials to release the information.

Individuals seeking assistance in locating a U.S. citizen abroad are encouraged to provide as much information as possible, including the caller’s full name, address, phone number and relationship to the individual; the name of the person abroad; date and place of birth; passport number, if known; last known address and phone number; reason for travel or residence abroad; travel itinerary; date of last contact; and other points of contact, such as friends, business associates or hotels.

The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica provides assistance in person at its facilities in Pavas, San José. Assistance is also available by email at ACSSanJose@state.gov or by phone at +(506) 2519-2000.