An Indonesian soldier has been detained by the Indonesian military for allegedly selling a high-powered Indonesian military firearm to a Papua New Guinean man, PNG Consular based in Jayapura, General Colonel Geoffrey Wiri, says.
The soldier is a member of the elite Border Security Task Force that patrols the 800km land border between PNG and Indonesia and is accused of selling the SS2-V4 weapon to a PNG gold seller for IDR 90 million (K25,000).
Related news: https://westpapuavoice.ac/politics/indonesian-soldier-arrested-for-alleged-attempt-to-sell-military-rifle-across-papua-border/
This is a state-of-the-art weapon that can be used as a sniper rifle and also has night-vision telescopic lenses.
This is believed to be the tip of an iceberg involving gun smuggling between Indonesian soldiers and PNG citizens.
Colonel Wiri said police in West Sepik Province are working with the Indonesian military to investigate the gold seller, who is believed to have escaped to Aitape.
Indonesian media reported that the soldier is serving with the RI-PNG Border Security Task Force, Infantry Battalion 643.
He was arrested by a joint team after being identified as selling an SS2-V4 firearm to a Papua New Guinea (PNG) man.
The case came to light dramatically after the soldier was involved in a fatal traffic accident in Heram District, Jayapura City.
According to information gathered, the soldier was known to have left the Skouw Border Security Post on Saturday (March 7, 2026) carrying an SS2-V4 firearm (gun number BJ.CS 036571). The soldier crossed into PNG territory with the intention of selling the weapon to a gold seller.
The transaction took place between the soldier and the gold buyer for K25,000, equivalent to IDR 90,000,000. After the transaction was successful, the soldier returned to Indonesian territory but did not report to his post.
The soldier’s escape ended when he was involved in a multiple-vehicle traffic accident on Tuesday (March 10, 2026) at around 5:30 PM in front of the Denzipur 10/KYD Cooperative on Jalan Abepura-Sentani.
The soldier, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time, collided with several vehicles, including a Honda Brio and several motorcycles. This incident resulted in the death of one person, while three others were injured.
Following the accident, the soldier was taken to Dian Harapan Hospital. There, a military intelligence officer conducted an intensive interrogation regarding the whereabouts of the weapons missing from the Skouw military border post, and the soldier eventually admitted to selling the weapon to a PNG man.
As the investigation continued, it was revealed that he was involved in another case of selling a similar weapon to another PNG man for K36,000 (approximately Rp122.5 million).
The soldier has been detained by authorities to undergo military legal proceedings regarding alleged desertion and the sale of firearms, as well as criminal proceedings related to the traffic accident that resulted in the loss of life.