It's interesting, this is the sort of thing that Angus Deaton suggested when he argued against the EA program in a Rationally Speaking podcast[1]. His premise is that cash transfers to the needy won't work in a country where an oppressive government can just take the cash for themselves. Perhaps this is part of the effect here? (Bribes, taxation, etc.) I'm a bit skeptical that this is a knock-out argument against the GiveDirectly program, but it's definitely something to keep in mind and explore further.

[1]: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deaths-of-despair-effe...