Police Dismantle Fake Stamp Syndicate, Lose The State More Than IDR 700 Million

Illustration (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Tanjung Priok Port Police Satreskrim have uncovered a syndicate of buying and selling fake stamps in the 10,000 and 6,000 denominations. As a result, the state is estimated to have suffered a loss of more than IDR 700 million.

The Tanjung Priok Port Police Chief, Adjunct Senior Commissioner of Police Putu Kholis Aryana, said that the perpetrator identified as YN was arrested. He acts as a dealer. Meanwhile, two other perpetrators namely W alias R are still at large.

Putu said that from YN's hands, the police confiscated evidence of 157 fake 10,000 stamps. Then 14 sheets of 6,000 stamps, 1 unit of press machine for printing 10,000 stamps, 1 unit of hp printer, 1 unit of sewing machine, 1 unit of drilling machine, 1 board for making 10,000 stamp duty hologram tape and so on. For his actions, the suspect was charged with Article 253 and Article 257 of the Criminal Code with a threat of 7 years in prison.

"Suspect YN admitted that he obtained the stamps by buying from W alias R for 1 sheet of 10,000 nominal stamps containing 50 pieces at a price of IDR 50,000," he told reporters, Sunday, March 27.

As a result of the practice of buying and selling fake stamps, the country is estimated to have suffered a loss of Rp. 762,750,000. Putu explained that this case was uncovered after his party conducted a cyber patrol and found that there was a sale and purchase of fake stamps on Facebook with an account called 'Nayla' with the title stamp of 10,000 half price.

After that, Putu said that his party immediately undercovered by ordering the goods on March 17, 2022. Suspect YN sold two pieces or 100 pieces for Rp. 500,000.

For a stamp of 10,000 per sheet, the suspect sells at a price of Rp. 100,000 to Rp. 250,000, so that the profits obtained are between Rp. 50,000 to Rp. 200,000. While 6,000 stamps per sheet are sold for between Rp. 50,000 to Rp. 150,000, so the profit received is between Rp. 50,000 to 100,000. Meanwhile, for the delivery of goods, Putu said, the suspect used an online motorcycle taxi service, while the payment was according to the agreement via transfer.

"The suspect admitted that he had made this fake stamp 5 years ago. Since then they have produced millions of counterfeit stamps which are sold in the free market," he said.

Currently, Putu said, the police are still looking for suspect W, who played the role of the maker of the fake stamps. However, based on a search of W's house, the police confiscated a number of evidences, such as 1 unit of a press machine that prints 10,000 stamps, 1 hologram ribbon making board with 10,000 stamps, 2 alcohol alcohol and 791 sheets of 10,000 stamps and 14 sheets of 6,000 stamps.

On this occasion, Putu appealed to the public to be more careful when buying stamps. Bearing in mind, the fake stamps are very similar to the real ones.

"If you look closely, the fake stamps made by the perpetrators are exactly the same as the originals. But there are some differences, such as the problem with the holes in the stamps that are not the same as the original. First identify the original and the fake before buying," he said.