Illegal Travel Case Highlights Mudik Risks of Using Unlicensed Transport

JAKARTA — As the Lebaran Mudik season approaches in 2026, the public are reminded to be more vigilant about ‘travel gelap’ practices that have resurfaced, offering passenger transport services. The warning followed a video widely shared on social media showing a woman who said she had fallen victim to an alleged illegal travel operation, operating under a so‑called ‘fast to reach’ modus operandi. In the video, the victim explained that she initially boarded a travel car bound for Bandung. However, the journey promised to the destination did not go as expected. The victim grew suspicious when the vehicle did not head directly to Bandung and the car is said to have circled several locations. If she refused to pay, she was said to be taken first to the Tanjung Priok Port area on the pretext of picking up other passengers. Afraid of the situation, the victim eventually decided to alight from the vehicle. The decision came after one of the passengers claimed to be a soldier and asked the driver to stop. ‘An important lesson: don’t be easily swayed by promises from taxis or travel operators that are unlicensed, claiming you will reach your destination faster or go straight away. It’s better to use an official travel service, even if slower, as long as you reach your destination safely,’ the woman wrote in the message. Responding to this phenomenon, a Transport Analyst from Masyarakat Transportasi Indonesia (MTI), Djoko Setijowarno, said the public should be more careful before using travel services. According to Djoko, one simple way to verify a transport’s legality is to ask about the vehicle’s roadworthiness test status or KIR. ‘Ask if there is a KIR. If the transport is official, it will be registered, including in the transport system SPIONAM. If not registered, don’t go,’ Djoko told Kompas.com on Sunday, 8 March 2026. He also reminded people not to be lured by the cheap fares often offered by illegal travel operators. He said the common practice is that passengers are attracted by a low price at the outset, but are then asked to pay extra mid-journey. ‘Cheap now, but later they ask for more money on the road,’ he added. Djoko also noted that vehicles used by unlicensed travel operators generally do not hold operating licences as public transport.