inp.polri.go.id - Bandung. Police uncovered a counterfeit IDR 100,000 bill being manufactured and distributed at a rented house in Ciparay District, Bandung Regency, West Java.
The raid uncovered an estimated total value of approximately IDR 1 billion.
The case came to light after police received a public report regarding a suspicious rented house as it was always closed and suspected of being used for illegal activities.
Head of the Bandung Sub-regional Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Police Assistant Superintendent Dwi Rio Andrian, stated on Thursday (9/17/2026) that the report was then followed up with an investigation, which led to the discovery of counterfeit bill manufacturing activity at the location.
"It began with an investigation conducted by officers after receiving reports from the public that a house was closed and looked suspicious," he said.
During the raid, police arrested two suspects, brothers MAR, also known as Ronald, and SYA bin Syaikani. The two men had different roles in the production of counterfeit IDR 100,000 bills.
MAR acted as the financier and provider of the premises, tools, and raw materials. He also worked on the design until the final stages. Meanwhile, SYA was in charge of printing the counterfeit money and maintaining the production equipment storage area.
According to Dwi, production activities began in July 2026. The suspects rented a house, purchased raw materials in stages, and then assembled eight printers and one laptop to support the counterfeit money-making process.
"Over the past week, they have produced approximately 300 million counterfeit bills per week," he said.
From the investigation, police estimate the total amount of counterfeit money printed is approximately IDR 1 billion. Of this amount, approximately IDR 7.1 million is known to be ready for circulation, while the remaining IDR 1 million is suspected to have circulated within the community.
The counterfeit money is suspected to have been distributed through transactions at small shops and retail gasoline vendors.
The two suspects were self-taught. They downloaded banknote designs from the internet, then edited them using Photoshop before printing them on paper to resemble real money.
For their actions, the two suspects were charged under Articles 374 and 375 of the Indonesian Criminal Code and Article 36 of Law Number 7 of 2011 concerning Currency. They face up to 10 years in prison.
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