"The suspects form a syndicate that has been operating for about one year in West Java and Banten," Grand Commissioner Dian Setyawan, the police's Director of General Criminal Investigation, stated in Serang, Banten, on Thursday.
He noted that a 45-year-old suspect, identified by the initials AM, is a repeat offender, having been incarcerated for marketing and delivering counterfeit bills in 2014. In the latest case, AM is suspected of printing the bills.
"This individual learned how to make the bills from their friend, who is currently serving a sentence in a prison in Jakarta," he remarked.
In addition to AM, the provincial police arrested his accomplices, who allegedly circulated the fake bills. They are identified as ZL, DS, TS, IS, WR, EN, WS, EK, ES, HM, DR, ED, and AS, aged between 48 and 66.
Setyawan then informed the media that the hunt for the syndicate was launched in response to a report of the sales and circulation of counterfeit bills in Cikupa Village, Tangerang District, received on January 19.
He said police officers interrogated ZL on suspicion that he was carrying Rp15 million (US$918) in counterfeit banknotes.
ZL admitted that they obtained the bills from DS and AS, known to reside in Bandung, West Java.
"The perpetrators offered their clients counterfeit bills in return for authentic rupiah notes, at a value ratio of four to one," he revealed.
Following its operation, the Banten Police seized 1,600 counterfeit rupiah notes, 1,034 US dollar bills, and 200 Brazilian real bills.
"This crime is punishable by a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to Rp50 billion (over US$3 million)," the police director concluded.
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Translator: Devi Nindy, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Primayanti
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