Jayapura, March 26 -- Indonesian troops seized firearms and ammunition after a clash with suspected armed separatists in Central Papua, the military said on Wednesday, as security forces step up patrols in the restive region.

A joint patrol under the Indonesian Military Operations Command, or Koops TNI, recovered two firearms and 22 rounds of ammunition of various calibers from a house believed to have been used as a base by an armed criminal group (KKB) in the Topo area of Nabire District.

Koops TNI spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Wirya Arthadiguna said the weapons were found after troops engaged in a firefight with suspected members of the group near Topo village on Saturday.

"Before discovering the house later identified as a KKB ba...