RRI.CO.ID. Jakarta - The Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim Polri), together with Bank Indonesia and the Coordinating Body for Combating Counterfeit Rupiah, held a press conference and ceremonial destruction of fake rupiah notes at Bank Indonesia’s headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.

Deputy Head of Bareskrim Polri Inspector General Nunung Syaifuddin, said the destruction reflects a shared commitment to maintaining national financial stability and protecting the public from counterfeit currency. He stated that the police are committed to taking firm action against all forms of currency crimes, from production and storage to distribution.

According to data from 2025 to April 2026, cases of counterfeit money have declined. The detection ratio fell from 4 parts per million in 2025 to 1 part per million in April 2026. During this period, Bareskrim Polri and regional units handled 252 police reports involving 1,241 suspects and seized 137,005 fake rupiah notes and 17,267 fake U.S. dollar notes.

"Counterfeit money not only causes economic losses for the public, but also threatens national economic stability and weakens public trust in the rupiah. The 466,535 fake rupiah notes destroyed came from various denominations collected by banks through Bank Indonesia between 2017 and November 2025," Nunung conveyed as quoted by the press statement of Public Relations of the Indonesian Police.

The notes were destroyed using a shredding machine after approval from the Central Jakarta District Court under Decree No. 01/PNBid/2026 dated January 23, 2026. This process ensures the notes are no longer recognizable and cannot re-enter circulation. The public is urged to be careful when handling cash and to report any suspected counterfeit money to the police.

Meanwhile, Bank Indonesia Deputy Governor Ricky P. Gozali mentioned that this progress results from strong inter-agency cooperation and improvements in currency materials, printing technology, and security features. These upgrades make the rupiah easier for the public to verify and harder to counterfeit.

He added that Indonesia’s rupiah has gained international recognition for its quality. The 2022 series won Best New Banknote Series at the 2023 IACA Currency Award, and the Rp50,000 note from the same series ranked second globally in November 2024 as one of the most secure and hardest-to-counterfeit banknot