Bareskrim Dismantles BTS Module Theft Syndicate Causing Blackouts in Jakarta and West Java

The Satresmob unit of the National Police Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim Polri) has dismantled a syndicate involved in the theft and fencing of base transceiver station (BTS) module devices operating across Indonesian regions. As a consequence of the crime, signal disruptions occurred in Jakarta, Banten and West Java.

“The actions of these perpetrators triggered telecommunications service disruptions up to signal blackouts affecting thousands of internet and mobile customers in several areas of Jakarta, Banten and West Java,” said the Head of Satresmob at National Police Headquarters, Commissioner Arsya Khadafi, in a statement on Thursday (16/7/2026).

The case began with a report from PT Smart XL Telecom Sejahtera, which repeatedly lost BTS module devices. The loss of these vital components had a direct impact on paralysing public telecommunications networks.

Bareskrim Polri moved swiftly, conducting a joint investigation with the East Jakarta Metro Police and Ciracas Police. Through CCTV footage analysis and field tracking, the team identified the perpetrators, who carried out their actions disguised as official technicians using a black Toyota Avanza.

“The perpetrators exploited the knowledge and access they had as former workers or network installation vendors. Carrying standard work equipment, they dismantled BTS module boxes without arousing the suspicion of local residents,” he revealed.

Police succeeded in securing several key suspects from various clusters of roles, including AN and ASA as the executors of the theft. Then RR, a former installation technician (sapron) who broke into the Kalisari area of East Jakarta, and GA as the fence and collector of stolen goods.

A thorough examination of AN revealed suspicious fund flows totalling 11 banking transactions, worth tens of millions of rupiah, to suspect RR.

“This syndicate is controlled by an international network. The stolen BTS modules were gathered by collectors and then sent abroad via courier services on the orders of a foreign national with the initials Jason Zhang, who is believed to be in Bangkok, Thailand,” he said.

Police then carried out a massive expansion of the case. Based on a report from the Taktakan Police, the joint team swept the jurisdiction of the Serang City Police.

“In this area of Banten, officers identified thefts at five different locations carried out by active vendor employees using a Daihatsu Sigra,” he disclosed.

A total of 15 modules were stolen and sold to a local fence with the initials IG, alias Kinoy, in Lebak Regency, Banten. IG is currently on the wanted persons list (DPO) along with three other perpetrators in Jakarta.

“In terms of total losses and evidence, Satresmob Bareskrim Polri has secured a total of 38 BTS modules of various types, mobile phones, the perpetrators’ identities and operational vehicles,” he said.

“As a result of this gang’s actions, the material losses suffered by the telecommunications operator are estimated to exceed Rp60,000,000,000. Even greater immaterial losses were felt by the public due to severed communications access disrupting business and daily activities,” he continued.

For their actions, the suspects have been charged under multiple articles, namely Article 477 of the Criminal Code on aggravated theft and Article 591 of the Criminal Code on receiving stolen goods.

“Bareskrim Polri affirms it will continue to pursue the other perpetrators still at large, hunt down local fences in the Karawang and Lebak areas, and trace the international distribution routes in order to sever this dark chain of state infrastructure theft down to its roots,” he concluded.