Police Arrest Counterfeit Money Dealer in Tangerang, Seize Rp 68 Million in Fake Notes
Police have uncovered the circulation of counterfeit money in the Pakuhaji area of Tangerang Regency. In exposing the case, police arrested a perpetrator along with evidence of counterfeit banknotes worth tens of millions of rupiah.
Chief of the Pakuhaji Sector Police (Kapolsek), AKP Prapto Lasono, said the case came to light following a report from residents suspecting the circulation of counterfeit money in the Pakuhaji area of Tangerang Regency. Armed with that information, the operational team of the Pakuhaji Sector Police conducted an investigation in the field.
Police then arrested the suspect, identified by the initials WW (32), on Jalan Raya Pakuhaji, Kampung Bebulak Dato, Pakuhaji Subdistrict, Tangerang Regency, on Saturday (11 July) at around 14.00 Western Indonesia Time. A subsequent search turned up counterfeit money worth Rp 150,000.
“During questioning of the suspected perpetrator, officers found dozens of counterfeit notes in Rp 100,000 and Rp 50,000 denominations believed to be ready for circulation,” Prapto said in a statement on Monday (13 July 2026).
From initial interrogation, the perpetrator admitted to still keeping counterfeit money and the equipment used to produce it at a rented house in the Jelupang area of North Serpong. Police then searched the premises, which served as the counterfeit money production site.
During the search, officers seized 338 counterfeit notes in Rp 100,000 denominations, 617 notes in Rp 50,000 denominations, and 46 notes in Rp 20,000 denominations. In addition to the ready-to-circulate counterfeit money, police also seized other pieces of evidence, including semi-finished materials, uncut banknote sheets, and production equipment such as UV ink, stamps, brushes, adhesive tape, clear pylox spray, spray adhesive, a cutter, a UV torch, and various other tools.
“The total value of the counterfeit money seized amounts to Rp 68,570,000,” he said.
From preliminary examination, the perpetrator admitted obtaining the raw materials for the counterfeit money from an individual known by the nickname ‘God Hand’ from Bandung. After obtaining the materials, the perpetrator produced the counterfeit notes through various stages, from installing security ribbons and gluing the sheets together with spray adhesive, to applying a coating spray to mimic the texture of genuine banknotes and creating hologram effects using certain substances.
In addition to hunting down the supplier of the raw materials, police are continuing their investigation to expose the wider network. The perpetrator himself admitted to carrying out the counterfeit money trade since 2025.
For his actions, the perpetrator has been charged under Articles 374 and 375, which govern the criminal offences of forging and storing counterfeit currency, carrying a prison sentence of 10 years.
Meanwhile, Chief of the Tangerang City Metro Police, Kombes Pol Raden Muhammad Jauhari, urged the public to be more vigilant when receiving cash, especially in direct transactions.
“The public is urged to always apply the 3D principle: Look, Feel, and Tilt when receiving money. If you find or suspect counterfeit money or any activity pointing to criminal offences, report it immediately to the nearest police station or through the National Police Call Centre on 110, available 24 hours a day,” Jauhari said.