PAPUA — An alleged illegal cockfighting gambling operation in Kilo 9, Koya Koso Village, Abepura District, Jayapura City, Papua, has come under public scrutiny following claims that the activity operates daily and involves hundreds of millions of rupiah in suspected betting transactions.
The information was provided by a witness identified by the initials BL, who claimed to have knowledge of the alleged cockfighting activity at the location.
According to BL, visitors entering the alleged arena are required to pay an entrance fee of Rp50,000 per person.
BL claimed that the alleged cockfighting activity is not limited to weekends or particular days but reportedly takes place every day.
“It is open every day, not just on certain days,” he said.
The alleged operation has attracted attention because of claims that significant amounts of money are circulating through betting activities. BL estimated that the total betting transactions could reach hundreds of millions of rupiah, although no official data is currently available to verify the figure.
“If you calculate the number of people coming and the money involved in the betting, it could reach hundreds of millions of rupiah,” he said.
The estimate remains a witness claim and has not been independently verified. The actual number of visitors, betting amounts, and total money allegedly circulating at the location remain unknown. More serious allegations concern claims that the area is allegedly guarded by members of the Indonesian National Police (Polri).
BL claimed that several police personnel, allegedly from the Brimob unit of the Papua Regional Police (Polda Papua), were seen around the location.
“It is tightly guarded. I saw police officers there. They were said to be from Brimob Polda Papua,” BL claimed.
BL also mentioned a police officer identified only by the initial D, whom he alleged was connected to the security or protection of the activity.
However, the allegation has not been independently verified. As of the publication of this report, there has been no official statement from the police officer identified by the initial D, Polda Papua, or the alleged arena operators confirming or denying the claims.
The allegations of daily gambling activity and possible involvement of police personnel warrant clarification and, if necessary, an investigation by law enforcement authorities. If proven, police involvement in protecting or facilitating illegal gambling could raise questions concerning disciplinary and ethical violations within the police force.
Authorities could examine the location, identify the alleged organizers, verify the entrance-fee system, investigate suspected betting transactions, review available video recordings, and interview witnesses and people who may have been present at the site.
The allegations emerged shortly after Police General Suyudi Ario Seto officially assumed the position of Chief of the Indonesian National Police.
President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated Suyudi as National Police Chief at the State Palace in Jakarta on October 1, 2026, replacing Police General Listyo Sigit Prabowo.
The allegations surrounding the Koya Koso site therefore raise questions about law enforcement and police accountability in Papua.
Any allegations of illegal gambling or police involvement should be established through factual verification and an official investigation rather than assumptions. Public attention is now focused on Polda Papua for clarification regarding the alleged cockfighting arena in Koya Koso, the reported Rp50,000 entrance fee, the alleged daily operation, and claims involving police personnel. No official response from Polda Papua regarding the allegations had been obtained at the time of publication.
Further confirmation from all parties mentioned in the allegations is necessary to ensure balanced reporting and to uphold the principle that no individual should be considered responsible before an official investigation establishes the facts.
