Bekasi. Indonesia’s central bank has launched an investigation after dozens of sacks containing shredded banknote fragments were discovered at a landfill in Bekasi, just east of Jakarta.

The team was dispatched to assist police following public reports and viral social media posts about the find in Bekasi Regency.

Preliminary findings indicate the fragments came from genuine rupiah banknotes — including Rp 100,000, Rp 50,000, and Rp 2,000 denominations — that appear to have been destroyed using industrial shredders, according to local police.

“The initial examination by Bank Indonesia confirms that the paper pieces originated from authentic banknotes that were officially destroyed and classified as central bank waste,” said Usep Aramsyah, head of the Setu district police.

The sacks were dumped on privately owned land in Taman Rahayu village, Setu district. Police have secured 21 bags of shredded currency from the site, some of which were torn open, scattering banknote waste across the landfill area.

Investigators have questioned several witnesses, including the landowner, a truck driver who transported the waste, and local residents.

Usep said police are awaiting clarification from Bank Indonesia on standard procedures for handling and disposing of destroyed banknotes, to determine whether any legal violations occurred in the distribution or dumping of the waste.

Bank Indonesia routinely withdraws old currency and accepts damaged banknotes for destruction, but it remains unclear whether such waste is permitted to be discarded at ordinary landfills.

The landfill owner, Santo, 65, said he was initially unaware that the red and blue paper fragments dumped on his property were pieces of currency. He said the waste had been delivered periodically over the past six months by a man identified only as KS, using a dump truck.

Santo’s two-hectare plot lies near the government-operated Sumur Batu Landfill, and has long been used as an informal waste-sorting site.

Environmental activist Rido Satriyo said the incident highlights weak oversight of illegal waste-sorting activities along the border between Bekasi city and Bekasi regency.

“There must be stronger involvement and supervision from all stakeholders, because this area carries significant environmental and social risks,” Rido said.

Bank Indonesia has yet to issue a formal public statement on the discovery.

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