DILI (TOP) - The Timor-Leste National Police have successfully arrested and detained four foreign nationals consisting of three people from China and one person from Indonesia who are strongly suspected of bringing in counterfeit money totaling 4 million US dollars into Dili.
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The Directorate of Criminal Investigation Services, on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at 10:00 local time, conducted a search and confiscated counterfeit money amounting to 4 million US dollars stored in a Y&W warehouse owned by a Chinese businessman in the Bidau Santana area, Dili.
The police action is based on the delegation of competence from the Public Prosecution (MP) tiwh the Unique Crime Number: 0138/26-PNSIC.
The search and seizure process in the Y&W warehouse in the sub-village of Sagrada Família, Bidau Santana village, Sub-district of Cristo Rei, Municipality of Dili, noted that nearly US$4 million of counterfeit money in the warehouse was placed in five (5) empty boxes and four large boxes with counterfeit money written on top.
The items found were large quantities of stacked bills, probably counterfeit, placed in shallow black trays for transport or concealment. Police officers are shown inspecting and securing evidence.
Such seizures are often part of crackdowns on international organized crime syndicates involved in smuggling or financial fraud.
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After the police authorities conducted the search and seizure, they immediately brought evidence or proof of counterfeit money and secured three Chinese citizens and one Indonesian as a worker for Y&W store submitted for identification and investigation at the office of the Criminal Investigation Directorate.
The Commander of the Timor-Leste National Police, Afonso dos Santos and his deputy Natércia Eufrazia Soares Martins also witnessed the evidence of the counterfeit money and then gave instructions to their subordinates to continue operations against the counterfeit money which is suspected to still be circulating in Dili.
