This is how Governor Bobby Nasution tackles extortion in Sidebuk-Debuk
The provincial government of North Sumatra (Pemprov) is taking swift action to eradicate the practice of extortion (Pungli), which has long plagued tourists in the hot springs area of Sidebuk-Debuk in the Karo district.
Under the leadership of Governor Bobby Nasution of North Sumatra, joint personnel have been deployed to secure access to the tourist area 24 hours a day.
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“This measure has been in effect since June 26, 2026, and remains in force,” the head of the North Sumatra Public Order Bureau (Satpol PP), Dr. Moettaqien Hasrimi, SSTP, M.SI, told reporters in Medan. For your information: the practice of extortion on the route to the Sidebuk-Debuk hot springs has long been a source of complaints from both citizens and tourists, as it damages the comfort and image of tourism in North Sumatra.
“The Governor’s order is that we, the North Sumatra Public Order Bureau (Satpol PP), guard the road to the hot springs, and we have deployed a large-scale joint team,” said Moettaqien.
A total of 45 personnel were deployed, consisting of 25 officers from the North Sumatra Provincial Public Order Bureau (Satpol PP) and 20 officers from the Karo District Public Order Bureau (Satpol PP).
They were stationed at three strategic posts to secure access to the tourist area and combat extortion, a practice often targeting tourists, particularly at night. At the start of the security operation, the officers encountered tensions. Some individuals continued to collect money illegally along the road. They were even suspected of committing violence, intimidating visitors, threatening with live weapons, and throwing stones at passing tourist vehicles.
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Faced with this situation, personnel from the Satpol PP of North Sumatra took decisive action by stopping all illegal levies and issuing warnings to prevent a recurrence of such practices.
“The illegal levies were stopped immediately. We also confirmed that the extortion practices were no longer taking place and that the consequences thereof had disappeared,” stated Moettaqien.
Currently, joint agents remain stationed at security posts in the Sidebuk-Debuk area to ensure that Governor Bobby Nasution’s directive—namely, that no more illegal levies that harm tourists may be collected—is fully complied with. “With the eradication of extortion, the tourism sector of North Sumatra will have a significant impact on the community,” said Moettaqien. ***REL
