Two men face multiple charges over trafficking weapons to a paramilitary group in Indonesia following a massive police investigation stemming from a pilot’s kidnapping.

A 64-year-old NSW man and 44-year-old Queensland man have been charged following a two-year probe by several police teams in Australia and New Zealand.

Officers opened the case after New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens was kidnapped on a remote Indonesian airstrip by members of the National Liberation Army of West Papua.

He was held captive for almost 600 days before being released in September 2024.

During the investigation of Mr Mehrtens’ kidnapping, officers found evidence allegedly linking the two Australian men to the trafficking of firearms to Indonesia.

Both were charged with multiple offences and granted bail be

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