ODC Task Force Dismantles Network Supplying Firearms and Ammunition to Armed Criminal Groups

Jayapura (ANTARA) - The ODC Peace Cartenz Task Force is working to dismantle the network supplying firearms and ammunition to armed criminal groups, or KKB, in Papua. These efforts are ongoing to break the chain of firearm and ammunition distribution to the KKB. “Currently, four people have been detained and designated as suspects in connection with the network supplying firearms and ammunition to the KKB,” said the Head of Operations for the Peace Cartenz Task Force, Inspector General of Police Faizal Rahmadani, when contacted from Jayapura on Saturday. He stated that the arrests of the four perpetrators were carried out in stages from Wednesday (25/3) to Thursday (26/3) in the vicinity of Jayapura Regency. The four individuals arrested are KO (45), SMM (40), HM (53), and AKW (51). They have been designated as suspects and charged under Article 306 in conjunction with Article 20 of the Criminal Code, which regulates illegal possession of weapons. From the statements of the suspects, it was revealed that they had different roles: three suspects, namely KO, SMM, and AKW, acted as intermediaries or facilitators in the illegal ammunition transactions. Meanwhile, suspect HM acted as the provider or seller of ammunition. The arrests are part of the development of investigations into a previous case also related to the illegal weapons and ammunition distribution network in several areas of Papua. “Investigators are continuing intensive in-depth investigations to uncover a wider network,” said Faizal. He added that during the arrests, the ODC Task Force team also secured several pieces of evidence, including communication devices, vehicles, and homemade firearms suspected to have been used in those illegal activities. “The ODC Task Force team will continue to crack down firmly on the illegal firearms and ammunition circulation network that has the potential to disrupt security stability in Papua,” said Faizal.