Garbage Truck Drivers Claim Extortion by Residents at Sumur Batu Landfill in Bekasi
Bekasi — A viral social media video has documented garbage truck drivers claiming to be victims of illegal extortion when passing through Gang Lurah, adjacent to Sumur Batu Kelurahan Office, in Bantar Gebang District, Bekasi City. The video, shared by the Instagram account @radar_bekasi on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, features multiple truck drivers heading to Sumur Batu Landfill (TPA).
The drivers report being solicited for money by a group of residents, referred to as “emak-emak” (neighbourhood women), each time they pass through the route. According to the post, this extortion practice has allegedly been occurring for approximately one month, since the main access road to Sumur Batu Landfill became impassable following a landslide that made it unsuitable for heavy vehicles.
Initial payment demands reportedly ranged from Rp30,000 to Rp50,000 per vehicle, though the rate has subsequently been reduced to Rp5,000 per passage.
Budi Sulistyo, Secretary of Sumur Batu Kelurahan, confirmed that the residential road was being used based on an agreement with residents as an emergency measure to alleviate congestion. The agreement included several conditions: controlling the volume of cargo and spacing between trucks to prevent bunching, speed restrictions, and a requirement to maintain road cleanliness. Trucks must also cover their waste with tarpaulin and not exceed capacity limits.
“The residents feel affected. What was previously a road just for community activities was suddenly used by large trucks carrying garbage. So they thought, what would be the compensation?” Budi told Kompas.com during an interview at the Kelurahan office on Thursday, 26 February 2026.
Budi acknowledged that discussions regarding compensation for affected residents had taken place, but he was unaware of the specific mechanisms or amounts involved.
According to Budi, the kelurahan has prepared an internal memo to the district administration for forwarding to the relevant agencies with authority to resolve the matter.
“Our role is essentially limited to that point. However, we are maintaining coordination,” he said.
He hopes that any policies adopted will be communicated down to the grassroots level, including to truck drivers, to prevent friction with residents.
“If possible, please communicate any policy decisions downwards. The agencies may already know about it, but the truck drivers don’t know, and this eventually leads to conflict with residents,” he concluded.