Immigration Authorities Thwart Attempt by 18 Indonesians to Depart for Illegal Hajj, Some Paid Up to Rp290 Million
Immigration officers at Juanda International Airport, Surabaya, have thwarted the departure of 18 Indonesian citizens suspected of attempting to perform the Hajj pilgrimage through illegal or non-procedural means. The prospective pilgrims were found to be using various methods to deceive immigration checks, ranging from pretending to be tourists travelling to Malaysia to claiming they were returning to work in Saudi Arabia using work visas.
The Head of the Class I Special Immigration Office TPI Surabaya, Agus Winarto, stated that monitoring non-procedural Hajj departures is conducted to protect the public from potential fraud and legal issues abroad. He noted that the implementation of the ‘Mecca Route’ is an immigration service oriented towards the ease and comfort of pilgrims, ensuring the process is fast, accurate, and secure.
Of the 18 individuals prevented from departing, eight were male and 10 were female, originating from various regions including Bangkalan, Sampang, Banjarmasin, Kuala Kapuas, Semarang, Gunungkidul, and Bone. According to Agus, some pilgrims claimed they were travelling to Malaysia, while others claimed they were returning to Saudi Arabia using residency permits (iqomah) and work visas. Officers also identified one passenger who was on the ‘Subject of Interest’ (SOI) list, having previously had their departure delayed at Soekarno-Hatta Airport for similar reasons.
Furthermore, several prospective pilgrims admitted to paying between Rp200 million and Rp290 million to certain parties for the arrangement of tickets, hotels, visas, permits (tasreeh), and the Nusuk application. Agus emphasised that monitoring is essential to prevent financial loss and legal complications in the destination country, urging the public not to be enticed by non-procedural offers that promise ease without official channels.
Conversely, immigration services for regular Hajj pilgrims via the Mecca Route programme at the Surabaya Embarkation are proceeding smoothly. This programme, a result of cooperation between the Indonesian and Saudi Arabian governments, allows Saudi immigration checks to be conducted in Indonesia, meaning pilgrims for the 2026 season will not need to undergo inspections upon arrival in the Holy Land. Since the first group departed on 22 April 2026, a total of 37,179 Indonesian pilgrims for the 2026 season have been dispatched through the Surabaya Embarkation to Saudi Arabia.
In the implementation of the 2026 Hajj services, Surabaya Immigration is collaborating with the Hajj Organising Committee (PPIH) Surabaya Embarkation, the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, airport authorities, and several related agencies to ensure operational smoothness and departure oversight. The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has revealed that approximately 80 prospective pilgrims without official visas were prevented from departing across 14 international airports. Meanwhile, the Indonesian National Police are investigating 95 initial reports regarding non-procedural Hajj methods.