TNI Suspects OPM Involvement Behind Cannabis Plantations in Bintang Mountains

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) discovered hundreds of cannabis plants in two different plantations in the Bintang Mountains Regency, Papua Pegunungan, and stated that the Free Papua Movement (OPM) was involved in those plantations.

The suspicion arose after Sebby Sambom, the spokesperson for TPNPB-OPM, was previously reported to have urged his members to plant cannabis in Papua.

“It is truly heartbreaking and ironic. While Papuan mothers are struggling to protect their children from narcotics in their homeland, the KKB/TPNPB-OPM are instead planting poison in the same land,” said Commander of the Joint Regional Defence Command (Kogabwilhan) III, Lieutenant General TNI Lucky Avianto, in his statement on Thursday (7/5/2026).

“This revelation began with a report from residents of Ngutok Village, Oksibil District, who suspected illegal activities in the forest area around their settlement,” said Lieutenant General TNI Lucky.

At the first location near Ngutok Village, the apparatus found 55 cannabis plants about 1.5 metres tall.

Not far from that location, personnel found another 80 cannabis plants in a different forest area.

The search was then continued to the area around Esipding Village, Serambakon District.

At that second location, TNI personnel found 81 cannabis plants about two metres tall.

“The Task Force T0 also secured suspects with initials LU and CU, who were brought along with 216 cannabis plant specimens as evidence to the nearest police station, so that legal proceedings can proceed immediately,” he explained.