The arrest of five the West Papua National Liberation Army of the Free Papua Movement (TPNPB OPM) members from War Regional Command (Kodap) I Mamta in Keerom has added a significant development to Indonesia’s latest law enforcement operations in Papua, after the Operations Damai Cartenz task force and Keerom Regional Police detained a man identified as HN alias YN, described by authorities as one of the leaders of the armed group, along with four other people.
The arrests took place on September 15, 2026, in Keerom Regency, Papua. The four others were identified by their initials as AM, 37, AI, 29, NW, 20, and BN, 45. The investigation was conducted under Police Report Number LP/B/164/VII/2026/SPKT/Polres Keerom/Polda Papua.
The case subsequently expanded when investigators searched a house belonging to AM alias M. Police said the search produced additional evidence, including a homemade long-barrel firearm, ammunition, and other weapons.
The operation is being presented by Indonesian authorities as a law enforcement case rather than a military battle. Investigators say they are still determining the precise role of each person detained, the ownership and origin of the weapons, and how the evidence relates to the case.
That distinction is important. While authorities identify YN as a leader of Kodap I Mamta, the other four individuals remain subject to investigation concerning their respective roles.
September 15: The Arrest in Keerom
The operation began on Tuesday, September 15.
According to the Operations Damai Cartenz public information chief, Commissioner Yusuf Sutejo, the task force and Keerom Police secured five people during the initial action.
They were HN aliases YN, AM, AI, NW, and BN.
The police subsequently continued their investigation by examining witness statements, collecting physical evidence, and conducting crime scene procedures.
Yusuf said investigators were not stopping at the arrests themselves. They were seeking to determine how each person was connected to the case and what function, if any, each individual performed.
“We will examine further the extent of the involvement and the function or role of each of the people we secured,” Yusuf said, according to reports of his statement.
That approach places the case within a conventional criminal investigation framework.
Rather than assuming that everyone detained had the same role, investigators are examining the evidence individually.
The process also matters because the case involves several different categories of evidence, including weapons, ammunition, mobile phones, cash, and other personal equipment.
The Investigation Leads to a House Search
Following the initial arrests, investigators carried out a further search at the residence of AM alias M.
The search became an important stage in the investigation because police reported finding additional weapons and ammunition.
According to JPNN, the items included one homemade firearm, two PCP air rifles, and two airsoft guns, bringing the number of weapons cited in the report to five. Police also reported ammunition in different calibers.
Detik separately reported that investigators found a homemade long-barrel firearm, several PCP-type long guns, and a short-barrel airsoft gun, as well as sharp weapons such as machetes and axes.
The terminology is worth noting.
Not every item described in the reports is a conventional firearm capable of firing live ammunition. Some were identified as PCP air rifles or airsoft guns. Nevertheless, Indonesian authorities and the media reports grouped the five weapons together in describing the evidence seized during the operation.
This distinction will likely be relevant to the legal assessment because investigators must establish the technical characteristics, ownership, and legal status of each item.
Five Weapons and Ammunition Seized
The weapons seizure became one of the most important elements of the case.
JPNN reported that the authorities secured five weapons consisting of one homemade firearm, two air rifles, and two airsoft guns. It also reported 30 rounds of 9 mm ammunition.
Detik provided additional detail, reporting that investigators found several rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition as well as 30 rounds of 9 mm ammunition.
The reports therefore indicate that the ammunition seizure involved at least two calibers.
This is important because investigators will find out if the ammo is linked to any seized weapons, where it came from, and who controlled it.
Police also seized bladed weapons, including machetes and axes, together with mobile phones, cash, and other personal belongings.
All of the evidence was subsequently taken to Keerom Police headquarters for documentation and further examination.
The evidence will form part of the next stage of the investigation.
YN Faces Multiple Allegations
As of September 19, investigators had formally designated YN as a suspect, according to JPNN and Detik.
Yusuf said YN was being investigated under several provisions, including Article 306 of Indonesia’s Criminal Code concerning unlawful possession or control of firearms and ammunition, with a maximum sentence of 15 years as cited by the report.
He was also reportedly subject to Article 448 of the Criminal Code and Article 29 in conjunction with Article 45B of Indonesia’s Electronic Information and Transactions Law concerning threats involving electronic information.
The application of multiple provisions illustrates the authorities’ decision to handle the case through a legal process based on evidence collected during the investigation.
However, charges and allegations are not equivalent to a final judicial finding.
The case must proceed through the Indonesian criminal justice system, where evidence is examined and the accused has the opportunity to respond through legal procedures.
Police Stress Evidence Before Conclusions
The head of Operations Damai Cartenz, Inspector General Faizal Ramadhani emphasized that investigators were continuing to establish the facts of the case.
Faizal said the authorities would examine information professionally and determine the role of each person based on evidence obtained during the investigation.
His statement is significant because the case involves five people with potentially different levels of involvement.
The investigation therefore remains broader than the arrest of the person identified as the group leader.
The police must establish who owned the weapons, who controlled them, how the ammunition was obtained, and whether other individuals were involved.
Those questions could determine how the case develops in the coming days and weeks.
Why the Keerom Case Matters
Keerom occupies an important position in Papua’s geography.
The regency lies near Jayapura and the Papua New Guinea border, making it an important area for transportation, trade, and movement between communities.
Security developments in the area can therefore have implications beyond a single criminal case.
For residents, business operators, and public servants, perceptions of safety influence the willingness to travel and conduct economic activity.
For law enforcement agencies, meanwhile, the presence of weapons and ammunition represents a challenge that requires intelligence, investigation, and coordination rather than simply a reactive response after violence occurs.
The latest operation is therefore part of a wider effort by the Indonesian government to strengthen law enforcement against armed groups and illegal weapons networks in Papua.
Operations Damai Cartenz has conducted similar arrests and weapons seizures elsewhere in Papua in 2026. ANTARA’s coverage of the task force shows a continuing pattern of law enforcement actions involving suspected armed group members, weapons networks, and individuals wanted in connection with violent incidents.
The Keerom case adds another layer to that effort because the investigation involves both suspected organizational leadership and weapons evidence.
The Importance of Weapons Control
The seizure of weapons and ammunition is significant beyond the immediate arrests.
Illegal weapons can increase the potential for violence and complicate efforts to maintain civilian security.
For authorities, tracing weapons is therefore an important part of understanding how armed networks operate.
Investigators will need to establish whether the homemade firearm was locally manufactured, where the ammunition came from, and whether the weapons were intended for personal possession or use by a broader network.
The available reports do not yet provide definitive answers to those questions.
That means the next phase of the investigation will be particularly important.
A weapons seizure can provide physical evidence, but its broader significance depends on what investigators can establish about ownership, procurement, and intended use.
Keerom and the Wider Security Environment
The arrests also come at a sensitive moment for Papua.
In September, several civilian deaths in Papua Pegunungan (Highland Papua) have prompted renewed discussion in Jakarta about the protection of civilians and the effectiveness of security mitigation.
The House of Representative (DPR RI) has called for stronger preventive measures, while the Regional Representative Council (DPD RI) has been examining the humanitarian consequences of conflict in Papua.
Against that background, the Keerom operation demonstrates another side of the government’s response: targeted law enforcement against people authorities identify as members or leaders of armed groups.
The two approaches are connected.
Protecting civilians requires authorities to respond to credible threats, investigate violence, and prevent illegal weapons from reaching armed actors.
At the same time, law enforcement must remain evidence-based and subject to judicial procedures.
That balance is particularly important in Papua, where security operations can have direct consequences for communities living in areas affected by conflict.
Development Depends on a Secure Environment
Security and development in Papua are closely connected.
Road construction, agriculture, education, health services, and local business activity all depend on people being able to move safely.
Keerom itself has considerable agricultural and economic potential, while its geographical position makes transportation and cross-border connectivity particularly important.
When weapons circulate illegally, the consequences can extend beyond security personnel and armed groups.
Farmers may face difficulties moving products. Transport operators may become more cautious about serving remote areas. Government workers can face greater risks when travelling to communities.
The government’s wider infrastructure and economic programs therefore require an environment in which communities and businesses can operate with confidence.
This is why weapons control and law enforcement are relevant to development policy as well as public security.
What Happens Next?
The investigation is now moving from the initial arrest phase to evidence assessment.
According to the authorities, the five people detained are being examined individually.
YN has been designated a suspect, while investigators continue to determine the roles of AM, AI, NW, and BN. The weapons and ammunition have been secured at Keerom Police headquarters for further examination.
Several questions remain open.
Investigators must establish the origin and ownership of the weapons, determine the legal status of the different types of weapons seized, trace the ammunition, and establish whether the evidence connects the suspects to other criminal activities.
The answers will determine whether additional arrests or charges follow.
For now, authorities have emphasized that the case remains under investigation.
Conclusion
The arrest of five TPNPB OPM Kodap I Mamta members in Keerom marks a significant law enforcement development in Papua, particularly because the operation combined the detention of a person identified as an armed group leader with the seizure of weapons and ammunition.
HN, alias YN was arrested together with AM, AI, NW, and BN on September 15. Investigators subsequently searched a residence and reported finding a homemade firearm, PCP air rifles, airsoft guns, ammunition, and bladed weapons.
Authorities have since designated YN as a suspect and applied several criminal provisions while continuing to examine the roles of the other four people.
The case nevertheless remains at the investigation stage.
Its ultimate significance will depend on what the evidence establishes in court and whether investigators can trace the wider network behind the weapons and ammunition.
For Indonesia, the operation illustrates the importance of targeted, evidence-based law enforcement in areas affected by armed violence. For communities in Keerom, the immediate concern is more practical: maintaining an environment where residents can work, travel, and conduct economic activities without fear.
The next step is therefore not simply to count arrests or seized weapons.
It is to ensure that the evidence is properly investigated, that legal procedures are respected, and that any individuals proven responsible for unlawful activity are held accountable.
At the same time, preventing the movement of illegal weapons will remain an important part of protecting civilians and creating the security conditions needed for Papua’s broader development.
In Keerom, the latest operation has put the focus firmly on that connection between law enforcement, civilian safety, and the long-term stability of communities across Papua.
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