Two Australian men charged over alleged weapons supply to Indonesian West Papua rebel group
After the group had kidnapped the New Zealand pilot and kept a prisoner for about two years, it was claimed that the fiery weapons and ammunition to the fugitive rebels.
A Queensland and NSW man are accused of trading weapons to the Western Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) after a two -year multiple agency efforts.
In February 2023, TPNPB members launched investigations after kidnapping New Zealand Pilot Phillip Mehrtens on a remote air strip of Western Papua in Indonesia.
Mr. Mehrtens entered and left Papua as a pilot, but he was kidnapped by TPNPB after downloading a small plane to Paro Airport in West Papua.
He was kept under captivity for 592 days before his release in September 2024.
TPNPB is the armed wing of the Free Papua movement, which aims to gain independence from Indonesia after watching the occupation of the province in the early 1960s.
The 64 -year -old NSW man and the 44 -year -old Queensland are accused of an extraordinary plan for traffic weapons from Australia to TPNPB, and as claimed, they are discussing the supplying Australian military firearms for the paramilitary group.
Between March and April 2024, the NSW man went to Indonesia to meet with members of TPNPB in Western Papua and carried an illegal optical rifle to Indonesia.
Inspectors then raided the boys’ houses in Urunga, NSW and Eagleby, Queensland in November 2024.
A series of suspects, including 13.6kg Mercury metal from the houses, were seized.
The NSW man faces more accusations – each of them is conspiracy, illegal weapon supply and a controlled substance.
The Queensland man was accused of having explosives sentenced to a maximum of six months in prison.
Both men will appear on 17 October 2025 at Brisbane’s Magistrate Criminal Court.
AFP commissioner Stephen Nutt, “Australia who participated in the trade of illegal weapons from Australia, should be warned to get into the hands of international groups,” he said.
“AFP works closely to protect society with our international partners, including the New Zealand police, by breaking criminal unions and lifting illegal firearms from the community.”
