Papuan Official Suspected of Being Involved in Weapon Smuggling

Jayapura, Papua (Antara Bali) - Papuan Provincial Police Chief Inspector General Tito Karnavian suspected a local official of being involved in smuggling of weapons from the southern Philippines to the province.

"We are suspecting there is a local official in Puncak area that involves in the latest case of weapon smuggling," Tito said here.

The Police suspected the official has funded the weapon smuggling at least twice.

Weapon smuggling activities were carried out in remote areas in Papua at least for three to four times for outlawed armed groups.

"Police are still investigating the case," Tito added.

The weapon smuggling has worried the local people. Some of them accused that the weapon came from the Indonesia military and police, Tito added.

"In fact, the armed groups obtained the weapons by stealing from the Indonesian military or police. The other source is weapon smuggle from abroad," Tito said.

The Papuan police foiled an attempt to smuggle three weapons from the Philippines into Papua by a boat on May 5, 2014.

A smuggler identified by his initial as YM was arrested when he disembarked from MV Lambelu in Sorong City, Papua.

The arrest was conducted following an investigation carried out by a Detachment 88 team led by Senior Adjunct Commissioner Asiz in Sorong. They seized three weapons including a rifle from YM. (WDY)