Halmahera, North Maluku. The Indonesian Police announced on Thursday that they have arrested four residents of North Halmahera Regency, North Maluku, for allegedly smuggling weapons purchased in the Philippines.

The suspects include a 59-year-old woman identified only as Yeni and three men aged between 18 and 32.

Officers seized four M16 assault rifles, a shotgun, 106 rounds of 5.56 caliber ammunition, eight magazines, three cellphones, and a bank book from the suspects, North Halmahera Police Chief Moh Zulfikar Iskandar said in a news conference.

Zulfikar said the investigation into the alleged arms smuggling began on May 12 after a public tip-off.

"The suspects often traveled to the Philippines to sell parrots captured from Indonesian jungles, and the proceeds were spent on weapons," the officer said.

They returned to North Halmahera by boat, a journey that took 48 hours.

"The suspects include the boat owner, an interpreter, and the weapon buyers," Zulfikar said.

"We don’t know yet whether they intended to resell the weapons or send them elsewhere because the investigation is still ongoing."

Under Indonesian law, illegal arms possession is a serious crime punishable by death.

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