Inp.polri.go.id - Manokwari. The Manokwari City Sub-regional Police accepted the  two homemade firearms, an AK47-style long-barreled weapon with a 5.56-millimeter caliber, and a short-barreled one measuring 38.8 millimeters, from local residents. "The two homemade firearms were surrendered by the locals. This is a development in the case of firearm assembly that occurred some time ago," said Deputy Chief of Manokwari Police, Assistant Superintendent Agustina Sineri, on Sunday (4/2/2024), In her statement, she explained that the Special Team of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the  Manokwari Police continued to employ persuasive approaches, urging the public to surrender homemade firearms purchased from the suspects. The police had previously arrested suspects RT (38), K (36), ARP (34), MS (42), MT (40), and NM (39) for proven involvement in assembling firearms and selling them to the public. "The team is engaging with traditional and community leaders, and due to the community's awareness, they have handed over two homemade guns," Chief Agustina said, calling on residents to surrender illegal firearms. This is related to the practice of including firearms as dowries in wedding ceremonies in several areas of West Papua Province. "We urge those who still possess firearms to hand them over to us or through the nearest police authorities," she added. Meanwhile, the Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of the Manokwari Police, Senior Private D Raja Putra Napitupulu, explained that the number of homemade firearms surrendered by the locals after the arrest of the suspects reached 27 pieces. Based on the confessions of the suspects, the sale of homemade firearms targeted several buyers located in Manokwari, prompting ongoing investigations. "We guarantee that if the community voluntarily surrenders firearms to us, we will not pursue legal action. Our suspicion is that there are still many in circulation, so the team continues to work," he said. Based on the suspects' statements, the trading of homemade firearms had been ongoing for approximately a year, with the modus operandi of identifying potential buyers for use as wedding dowries. (ar/fa/pr/nm)