Police Confiscated 5 Homemade Firearms, Telescope And Dozens Of Ammunition In Merauke

JAYAPURA - Merauke Police arrested three suspected makers of homemade firearms and five homemade guns. Telescopes, silencers, and were also confiscated, as well as 38 rounds of 5.56 mm caliber ammunition.

"It is true that there were two arrests including two people who were arrested early Monday (1/3) along with two weapons in their possession", said Merauke Police Chief Untung Sangaji, quoted by Antara, Monday, March 1.

The arrests by the police began with an intensive investigation. Two homemade gunsmiths were captured, along with ammunition and telescopes, and silencers.

The suspects who were arrested are said to be capable of making quality assembled rifles with both long and short barrels and they have the tools.

The firearms that are produced have sufficient quality and even have sound absorbers so that it is certain that it is not for hunting, as explained by the makers who are now secured at the Merauke Police Headquarters.

"They are also capable of making riffles or hunting weapons into lethal weapons like those of the National Army and the Police Force have", said Untung.

Investigators are still examining the three of them and members in the field are still investigating other possibilities. However, the police have not yet identified the identity and location of the arrests of the homemade gunsmiths.

"We also cannot confirm which group they are from and whether the goal is to make assembled firearms with the prime quality or not because everything is still being examined", said Sangaji.