South Sumatra Police Destroy 397 Illegal Firearms Seized in Major Operation

South Sumatra Police (Polda Sumsel) have reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining public order by destroying hundreds of illegally assembled firearms. The destruction of evidence from Operation Senpi Musi 2026 was led by South Sumatra Police Chief Inspector General Sandi Nugroho on Friday (3/7/2026) at the Brimob shooting range. The operation was conducted over 16 days, from 12 to 27 June 2026. Inspector General Sandi Nugroho stated that eradicating the circulation of illegal firearms is tangible proof of the state’s involvement in protecting its citizens. “The results of this operation are quite significant, both long-barrelled and short-barrelled weapons. This signifies that the state is present to secure the public in activities related to firearms,” he said. He added that the operation’s ultimate goal is to guarantee the public’s freedom and sense of security from armed threats. “The South Sumatra Police ensure that this responsibility for maintaining security and order represents the state’s presence among the community. The aim is for people to carry out their activities, work, worship, and attend school safely without fear due to the circulation of firearms,” he stressed. Based on operational data, Operation Senpi Musi 2026 uncovered 32 criminal cases of firearms misuse with 31 suspects arrested. A total of 397 firearms were destroyed, comprising 284 long-barrelled weapons and 113 short-barrelled weapons. Sandi attributed this success to the hard work, intelligence, thoroughness, and sincerity of a super team, specifically appreciating the collaboration of the Deputy Chief, the Internal Affairs Inspector, key officials such as the Director of Criminal Investigation and the Head of Operations, as well as all district police chiefs. The success was also supported by high public awareness and active participation, evidenced by the voluntary surrender of 234 firearms by residents. Echoing the Chief’s statement, the Head of Public Relations for South Sumatra Police, Senior Superintendent Nandang Mu’min Wijaya, added that the destruction serves as a stern warning to criminals in the region. “Polda Sumsel will not give any room for the circulation of illegal firearms, which are often a source of public unrest. We greatly appreciate residents who have been proactive and brave enough to voluntarily surrender their homemade weapons. For those still storing or aware of illegal firearms, we urge you to immediately hand them over to the nearest authorities before firm legal action is taken,” he explained. As a future mitigation measure, the police continue to open complaint channels so that the public does not hesitate to report any indications of the manufacture or circulation of homemade firearms in their neighbourhoods. Residents are encouraged to contact the integrated Call Center 110, which is ready to respond to reports quickly.