Reporter
Tempo.co
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on November 1, 2024, that TTH, a 50-year-old Indonesian citizen, was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers. The incident occurred on October 30, 2024, at Washington Dulles International Airport.
Judha Nugraha, Director of Citizen Protection at the Ministry, stated, “The individual was apprehended for possessing US$28,500 (around Rp447 million) in ‘black money scam’ notes.”
The Indonesian Embassy in Washington, D.C., has been in communication with CBP and learned that the case has been transferred to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) Police for further investigation.
The “black money scam” refers to a fraudulent scheme where individuals attempt to evade detection by customs authorities through the chemical alteration of currency notes. If convicted, offenders may face felony forgery charges under Virginia law.
Judha emphasized that the Indonesian Embassy will continue to monitor the investigation and provide legal support to ensure TTH’s rights are upheld.
According to CBP’s official website, officers found the counterfeit notes in TTH’s luggage during a secondary inspection on October 31, after arriving from Lome, Togo.
The inspection revealed two bundles of black paper and one of white paper, each marked with labels stating “One Hundreds.” In total, officers identified 285 sheets that closely resembled U.S. currency notes. When examined under ultraviolet light, the paper quality matched that of US$100 bills.
CBP has seized the fake currency and turned both the evidence and TTH over to the police. TTH remains presumed innocent until proven guilty in court, according to CBP’s statement.
