Hajj Fraud Losses Reach Rp 21.7 Billion by End of May

Jakarta — Public losses resulting from hajj pilgrimage fraud and regulatory violations have reached Rp 21.7 billion by the end of May 2026. This was revealed by the Indonesian National Police’s Hajj and Umrah Task Force, which has processed 59 reports comprising 29 police reports and 30 information reports, affecting a total of 550 victims.

“The number of victims has reached 550 people, with total public losses amounting to Rp 21,701,700,000,” stated National Police Public Relations Director General Johnny Eddizon Isir in a statement on Tuesday (2 June 2026).

Data from the Task Force’s Law Enforcement Sub-unit (Gakkum) also recorded that 26 individuals have been designated as suspects in these cases.

“This year’s hajj pilgrimage implementation has provided valuable lessons for all stakeholders,” said Isir.

The handling of dozens of cases resulted from coordination between the National Police’s Special Crime Directorate (Dittipidter) and regional police units across various areas. Beyond legal proceedings against the perpetrators, the Hajj Task Force has implemented various preventive measures through public education, monitoring of pilgrim departures, and coordination with relevant ministries and agencies.

The evaluation of this year’s hajj implementation was also discussed during a meeting between Deputy National Police Chief General Dedi Prasetyo and representatives of Saudi Arabia’s Presidency of State Security (PSS) at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah on Monday (1 June 2026).

Both parties discussed strengthening cooperation to support hajj governance and protection of Indonesian pilgrims. Indonesia and Saudi Arabia agreed to enhance coordination, information exchange, institutional capacity building, and technology utilisation to support pilgrim security and services.

According to Isir, the joint evaluation conducted with the Saudi Arabian government represents an important foundation for improving the quality of services and protection for Indonesian pilgrims in the future.

He added that future hajj implementation challenges extend beyond service delivery, encompassing strengthened public education, improved compliance with regulations, and prevention of criminal schemes targeting prospective pilgrims.

Therefore, strengthened governance, adaptive oversight, and inter-agency cooperation are considered key to ensuring Indonesian pilgrims can perform the hajj safely and comfortably.