inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) is collaborating with law enforcement officials to anticipate and take firm action against potential illegal levies in the aid distribution process and the construction of housing for disaster victims, including in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.

The Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari, emphasized that the involvement of the Indonesian National Police (INP) and the Attorney General's Office in the proposal letters from regents and mayors is intended to ensure that every aid proposal has a strong and justified legal basis.

"This is why we include law enforcement officers in the proposal letters from regional leaders. If the extortion is carried out by thugs, it will be handled by the police, but if government officials are involved, it will be reported to the District Attorney's Office because it is a criminal offense," explained the Head of BNPB on Monday (3/30/2026).

This statement was made in BNPB's response to an alleged IDR 3 million levy from a village official to disaster survivors in Tetingi Village, Pantan Cuaca District, Gayo Lues Regency, Aceh.

The village government officials used the levy to guarantee disaster survivors access to housing and permanent land.

Tetingi Village itself is home to 133 families, or 418 people, all of whom were affected by the flash floods of November 26, 2025. Thirty-three houses were swept away, and 42 others were severely damaged, requiring relocation to new housing constructed by the government.

To date, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has not received any official reports of extortion from beneficiary communities, although nearly 99 percent of evacuees in emergency tents have now moved to temporary housing (huntara).

(ad/ndt/pr/rs)