Indonesian Citizen Arrested By Washington DC Immigration Black Money Case, Indonesian Embassy Provides Legal Assistance

Illustration-Black Money (DOK restrojakbar.com)

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) ensures that the Indonesian Embassy in Washington DC in the United States is handling the case of an Indonesian citizen who was arrested by the local immigration authorities on suspicion of carrying counterfeit money for the US black money scheme.

TTH was arrested by US Custom and Border Protection (CBP) officers on October 30, 2024 at Dulles International Airport (Virginia) for carrying 28,500 US dollars in black money, according to the Director of Protection of Indonesian Citizens and BHI Ministry of Foreign Affairs Judha Nugraha in a written statement received in Jakarta, Antara, Friday, November 1.

Judha said the perpetrators could be charged with forgery crimes under the Virginia state of the Criminal Code, the location where THH was arrested, if found guilty. For this reason, the Indonesian Embassy in Washington DC will continue to monitor the investigation process and provide legal assistance to TTH while detained by US authorities.

"This is to ensure that TTH's legal rights are fulfilled according to local law," said Judha.

In a written statement released by CBP Dulles in Virginia, Wednesday (30/10) local time, TTH, which is known to have arrived in Dulles from Lome in the west African country of Togo, was secured after officers found two piles of black paper and a pile of plain white paper tied with a ribbon that read One Hundreds.

A follow-up examination by CBP officers found that the total 285 pieces of paper piles had similarities to banknotes worth 100 US dollars when checked with ultraviolet lights.

"Officers confiscated the counterfeit banknote and handed over the evidence and THH to the Washington Metropolitan Airport Authority police," said a statement by CBP Dulles.

According to CBP Dulles, black money' fraud refers to fraud committed by individuals offering plain sheets colored with certain chemicals by recognizing them as real money, but must first be washed away' with certain fluids so that real money can appear.

The perpetrators can argue that the money was colored to trick the customs authorities. Because the 'black money' is counterfeit money, the perpetrator may mix real money with black money' to further convince the victim.