Up to Rp 200,000 Per Pass: Truck Driver Exposes Widespread Extortion in North Jakarta

JAKARTA - Truck drivers passing through the Kapuk Kamal area in Penjaringan, North Jakarta, can end up paying up to Rp 200,000 due to the rampant practice of illegal levies (pungli). One driver, Fatih (not his real name), said he has to request additional “road money” from his company when assigned routes through that area. “If you’re unlucky, it can be Rp 200,000 for a one-way trip, not round trip,” Fatih told Kompas.com on Tuesday (5/5/2026). According to him, the amount of the levy varies at each point. During the day, perpetrators usually demand Rp 2,000 to Rp 5,000. But at night, the amount can rise to Rp 30,000 to Rp 50,000 per point. “At night, on risky routes, they can ask for Rp 30,000, sometimes Rp 50,000. If you’re really unlucky, it can reach Rp 200,000,” he said. “The drivers are fed up and avoid going there,” he added. Another driver, Ardi (45), said the extortion practice in the area has been ongoing for a long time and keeps recurring despite several raids by authorities. “Yeah, in that place, it can’t be eradicated. Caught today, tomorrow there will be others, more will come,” said Ardi. He assessed that the crackdowns have not been effective because there are many perpetrators in the field, while only one or two are caught. “Only those who are caught, their friends are still around,” he said. “At every intersection. One point can have four to five people. Especially at the Kamal roundabout near the water pump, sometimes up to six people,” he added. The extortion does not only target container trucks but also other vehicles like box trucks and those from out of town. In fact, out-of-town vehicles are said to be the main targets. “Especially those Sumatra-crossing vehicles. They love out-of-town vehicles the most,” he said.