In a sweeping crackdown aimed at neutralizing separatist violence in Papua, Indonesian law enforcement and military units have intensified operations to dismantle illegal arms and ammunition supply chains believed to be fueling the armed wing of the Free Papua Organization (OPM). The recent series of busts, involving multiple provincial police departments and military task forces, represents one of the most aggressive enforcement campaigns in recent years.
More than 1,600 rounds of ammunition and several unlicensed firearms were destroyed this week in Sorong, West Papua, as police revealed new details about a growing arms trade that spans provinces and implicates rogue members of the military and police.
A Coordinated Offensive Against a Hidden Threat
The seizure and destruction of ammunition on July 7, 2025, was a dramatic display of enforcement success and a warning to weapons traffickers. The West Papua Regional Police (Polda Papua Barat) said the stockpile had been intercepted from two suspects allegedly planning to supply separatist groups in Central Papua.
“These are not just tools of violence; they are instruments of fear and instability. We’ve taken significant steps toward disarming those who terrorize our people,” said West Papua Police Chief Inspector General Daniel Silitonga during the destruction ceremony.
The operation was part of a broader interagency effort involving multiple police commands, including those from East Java, South Sulawesi, and Papua, supported by military intelligence and customs officials.
Inside the Black Market Pipeline: Security Forces Implicated
Investigations have uncovered a disturbing trend—some of the smuggled weapons and ammunition came from within Indonesia’s own security forces.
Two members of the Indonesian National Police were recently arrested for allegedly selling ammunition to armed separatist factions. One officer, based in South Sulawesi, was linked to a black-market distribution ring, while another in Papua is accused of directly supplying ammunition to the OPM’s armed group, widely referred to as the KKB (Kelompok Kriminal Bersenjata).
“The involvement of law enforcement personnel in this network is unacceptable and deeply damaging,” said Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko. “We are committed to prosecuting those responsible, regardless of rank.”
The Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) have also faced scrutiny following reports of military personnel suspected of trafficking weapons—cases that have drawn criticism from civil society and raised calls for systemic reform.
National Security Priority Under New Administration
The arms crackdown aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s national security agenda, which emphasizes peace through strength in Papua. Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka—tasked with overseeing accelerated development in the region—has stated that “security is the foundation of sustainable progress.”
Reducing the supply of weapons to separatist groups is seen as a key component in reducing attacks on civilians, educators, healthcare workers, and infrastructure projects. In 2024 alone, dozens of security personnel and civilians were killed in incidents attributed to the OPM’s armed factions.
Lt. Col. Reza Suryana, a senior officer in the Koops Habema joint military command, described the smuggling network as “well-funded and adaptive,” often relying on couriers, middlemen, and encrypted messaging apps to avoid detection.
From Java and Abroad to Papua: Smuggling Routes and Arrests
In March 2025, East Java Police intercepted a weapons shipment in Bojonegoro, suspected to be en route to Papua. The case, involving a civilian smuggler, revealed how arms from the country’s western provinces are routed via sea and land corridors to reach the conflict-affected highlands. Another significant arrest took place in Makassar, South Sulawesi, where an active-duty officer was caught with hundreds of rounds of ammunition believed intended for separatist elements. A senior official from the Ministry of Defense noted that “cross-provincial coordination and data integration have been key in recent successes” and emphasized that intelligence operations would continue to track remaining cells.
In January 2023, Indonesian and Philippine authorities arrested Papua-born pilot Anton Gobay, who was intercepted in the Philippines while attempting to smuggle a cache of firearms—including ten AR‑15 rifles and two Ingram pistols—destined for Papua’s separatist groups, specifically the KKB/OPM. Gobay confessed to purchasing the weapons from illicit arms dealers in Danao City, South Philippine and planning overland routes through Gensan to reach Papua, motivated by both ideological sympathy for the Free Papua Movement and profit motives. Investigators have traced connections between Gobay and the Komite Nasional Papua Barat (KNPB), as well as ties to OPM frontman Sebby Sambom, and he previously faced separatism-related charges in Nabire in 2014. His arrest underscores the transnational nature of the arms trade feeding Papua’s armed conflict, exposing vulnerabilities in security across Southeast Asia.
Civilian Impact and Human Rights Concerns
While authorities celebrate operational wins, rights groups caution against overreach. “There must be clear lines between counterinsurgency and civilian protection,” said Esther Haluk, a researcher with the Papuan Institute for Justice and Peace. “The risk is that intensified enforcement spills into profiling and suppressing indigenous voices.”
Papuan communities, many of whom already live under heavy surveillance, are wary of further militarization. The government has said that its focus is strictly on armed groups and criminal networks, not peaceful political expression.
The Road Ahead: Enforcement and Engagement
Security analysts say that while cutting off arms supplies may weaken separatist forces in the short term, lasting peace in Papua requires deeper political dialogue, economic inclusion, and credible justice mechanisms.
“The state must continue enforcement but also invest in reconciliation,” said Dr. Tito Baransano, a political analyst at Gadjah Mada University. “It’s not just about guns—it’s about grievances.”
In the meantime, the Indonesian government is pushing forward with both development projects and security reform in the region, with hopes that an integrated approach can finally reduce the cycle of violence that has plagued Papua for decades.
Conclusion
Indonesia’s intensified crackdown on arms smuggling to Papua separatists marks a significant step in its strategy to weaken the operational capacity of OPM-linked armed groups. By dismantling supply chains and prosecuting corrupt insiders, the government aims to stabilize the region and support broader development. However, long-term peace will depend not only on enforcement but also on addressing deep-rooted grievances through political dialogue, trust-building, and inclusive governance—ensuring that justice and security go hand in hand for lasting stability in Papua.
