Counterfeit Money
Dili, 15 April 2026 (Media Democracia) – Timor-Leste National Police, through the Criminal Investigation Service Directorate (DSIC – Portuguese acronym), conducted a search and seizure at the Y&W store warehouse in Bidau Santa Ana at 10:00am local time, and identified and found counterfeit money amounting to over US$4 million.
The action by the Timor-Leste National Police was based on a delegation of competence from the Public Ministry with NUC: 0138/26-PNSIC.
Meanwhile, the Y&W store warehouse is located in Aldeia Sagrada Família, Suku Bidau Santana, Cristo Rei Administrative Post, Dili Municipality.
On site, journalists observed that the counterfeit money of almost US$4 million in the warehouse was stored in five (5) empty safes and four large boxes containing counterfeit money labeled “Meas” on top, with a total of 158 packages inside. Each package contained three bundles of US$100.00 counterfeit bills, and the suspected total of counterfeit money in each package was US$30,000.00.
When the Police completed the search and seizure and obtained this evidence, they immediately took the evidence such as the counterfeit money and detained three Chinese citizens and one Indonesian citizen to submit them for identification at the Criminal Investigation Service Directorate (DSIC) building at PNTL General Headquarters, Caicoli, Dili.
After the security team brought the evidence to PNTL General Headquarters in Caicoli, PNTL General Commander Assistant Commissioner Afonso dos Santos and Second General Commander Assistant Commissioner Natercia Eufrazia Martins directly inspected the evidence that the Criminal Investigation Service Directorate collected at the scene.
The PNTL General Command also gave instructions to continue searching for other places storing this counterfeit money.
Thus, PNTL General Commander Assistant Commissioner Afonso dos Santos and Second General Commander Assistant Commissioner Natercia Eufrazia Martins gave appreciation for DSIC’s work in securing counterfeit money of a large amount.
Report By: Estefania Cardoso
Photo By: Estefania Cardoso