Combined Team Dismantles Weapon and Ammunition Smuggling Network to Papua Separatists
Jayapura — A combined team comprising personnel from Operation Peaceful Cartenz 2026 and Papua Police have dismantled an illegal weapons and ammunition smuggling network destined to supply the Yahukimo and Yalimo armed separatist groups (KKB).
The network was uncovered following the arrest of five suspects across various areas surrounding Papua. Kombes Pol Yusuf Sutejo, the Public Affairs Chief of Operation Cartenz, stated in Jayapura on Saturday that arrests occurred on Thursday 12 March in Jayapura City and Jayapura Regency.
Initially, eight individuals suspected of involvement in the network were detained along with substantial evidence including homemade firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, magazines, and other items connected to the suspects’ activities.
Of the eight arrested, five have been formally designated as suspects: SP (38), who acted as the primary weapons and ammunition buyer; OB (22), also known as Bakuru, who provided approximately 122 million rupiah in funding for the illegal firearms and ammunition purchases; YP (35), who contributed roughly 13 million rupiah towards ammunition procurement; MKM (39), who facilitated introductions between buyers and sellers of homemade weapons; and DK (35), who served as an intermediary in weapons and ammunition transactions.
The three remaining individuals detained are currently classified as witnesses pending further investigation into their specific roles. Recovered evidence includes one assembled long-barrelled homemade firearm, 298 rounds of ammunition in various calibres, five firearm magazines, several mobile telephones, and identification documents and bags believed to be connected to the suspects’ activities.
According to Kombes Yusuf, the operational method involved dispatching individuals from mountainous regions to Jayapura to locate networks and parties capable of providing illegal firearms and ammunition, after which the weapons would be transported to operational areas controlled by the separatist groups.