inp.polri.go.id - Siak. A cross-regional driver's license (SIM) counterfeiting syndicate has been dismantled by the Siak Sub-regional Police in Riau. Police arrested eight suspects and uncovered approximately 500 counterfeit SIMs allegedly distributed across several areas in Riau Province.
Siak Sub-regional Police Chief, Superintendent Sepuh Ade Irsyam Siregar, stated in a press conference in Siak on Tuesday (9/15/2026) that the syndicate had been operating since June 2026. The bust was carried out in stages from late August to early September.
The forgery involved editing SIM data using digital devices. The editing took place at a shop in Pekanbaru City before the fake SIMs were printed and distributed to customers.
In the bust, police secured eight suspects, dozens of SIM forms, and various equipment suspected of being used to produce the counterfeit SIMs.
"This syndicate has distributed at least 33 fake driver's licenses within the jurisdiction of Siak Regency, as well as around 500 fake driver's licenses spread across various regions in Riau Province," he said, accompanied by the Head of the Siak Sub-regional Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Police Senior Inspector Raja Kosmos Parmulais.
Police are still investigating other areas in Riau targeted by the fake driver's license distribution.
Sepuh said this disclosure uncovered a network with a fairly comprehensive division of roles, from raw material suppliers and data editors and printers to those marketing the fake driver's licenses online.
Fake driver's license production services are offered through various platforms, from WhatsApp messages and status updates, Facebook marketplaces, and through the use of intermediaries.
The rates offered vary based on the type of driver's license. A Class Driver's License is set at IDR 750,000, a Class Driver's License is IDR 550,000, a Class Driver's License is IDR 1.2 million, a Class Driver's License is IDR 1.5 million, and a Class Driver's License is IDR 1.7 million.
Sepuh explained that prospective buyers simply send a photo and ID card to the perpetrators. The data is then edited and added with a barcode to make it appear like an official driver's license.
"The perpetrators ask the SIM issuer to send a photo and ID card. The perpetrators then edit the identity and photo using an application that adds text and barcodes. So, when the barcode on the SIM is scanned, the SIM owner's identity data appears with the Indonesian National Police Traffic Corps logo," he said.
After the data and photo are edited, the perpetrators print the results using a color printer on clear sticker paper that fits the size of the SIM. The printout is then affixed to a blank or used SIM card. Before use, the card is cleaned to remove the previous owner's identity.
The police charged the suspects with Article 391 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code (KUHP) regarding document forgery.
The suspects face a maximum prison sentence of six years.
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