The Hela Provincial Police Command has launched a province-wide firearms and weapons amnesty, giving gun holders until December 25, 2026, to voluntarily surrender illegal firearms and other weapons without being arrested for the weapons handed in.
The Operation Hela Gun Free, Operation Order 03/2026, was officially launched on September 18 at Andaija Oval in Tari by Police Minister Sir John Pundari.
Related news: https://pnghausbung.com/operation-hela-gun-free-province-wide-amnesty-2026/
The voluntary surrender program will run until December 25 under the theme: “Hand Your Gun In. Protect Your People. Choose Peace.”
Hela Provincial Police Commander Inspector Arau Mairi is urging people to surrender factory-made firearms, homemade guns, ammunition, magazines and firearm parts, as well as bows, arrows, spears and wire catapults.
“No arrests for the weapons you hand in. No search of persons attending. No cordon-and-search in your community on event day. You will be issued a numbered receipt to keep it,” PPC Mairi said in a statement.
“You will not be charged for having these guns because you have handed the guns voluntarily. The weapons can also be handed in through a church or community leader on your behalf with the same protection.”
PPC Mairi urged people to surrender weapons through designated police stations and during awareness activities in their respective districts.
The surrender and awareness program will be conducted according to the following schedule:
* Tari-Pori: September 24–30, 2026
* Koroba-Lake Kopiago: October 1–12, 2026
* Parliament session: October 13–24, 2026 — no field activities
* Komo-Hulia: October 25–November 6, 2026
* Magarima: November 8–11, 2026
* Provincial follow-up, surrender and reintegration: November 12–December 25, 2026
PPC Mairi said the amnesty would close with a final close-out at Andaija Oval in Tari on December 25.
He warned that all protection under the amnesty would end after the deadline, with police enforcement operations to resume.
He said lists of people who continued to possess firearms after the amnesty would be passed to targeted police operations.
Kumul 23 Special Operations would then be deployed, and cordon-and-search operations would resume, he said.
Related news: https://www.thepngsun.com/tebi-llg-in-tari-surrenders-firearms-as-hela-gun-amnesty-continues/
“Nogat Gun, Nogat Traibal Fait. A borrowed or hired gun in your hands is still yours in law. Bring it in,” PPC Mairi said.
He urged communities to work with police and use the amnesty to help make Hela safer by choosing peace, education and a better future for their children.