Indonesian National Police Forms Hajj and Umrah Task Force to Anticipate Fraud and Illegal Departures

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Indonesian National Police (Polri) has formed a Task Force (Satgas) for Hajj and Umrah to strengthen protection for pilgrims and to address illegal Hajj operations.

This task force was established as a follow-up to coordination between Polri and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of the Republic of Indonesia.

Deputy Head of the Criminal Investigation Agency of Polri, Inspector General of Police Nunung Syaifuddin, stated that Polri is committed to supporting the smooth implementation of the Hajj for 1447 Hijriah/2026 CE.

“Polri is committed to supporting and ensuring the success of the Hajj pilgrimage in 1447 Hijriah/2026 CE so that it runs safely, orderly, and comfortably for all Indonesian Hajj pilgrims,” said Inspector General Nunung in his statement on Friday (17/4/2026).

Furthermore, Law No. 14 of 2025 demands strengthened oversight and synergy between institutions, particularly regarding non-quota and non-procedural Hajj practices.

According to Nunung, Hajj is not only about worship but also about protecting citizens, the nation’s image, and international trust.

“This task force serves as a strategic instrument in ensuring pilgrim protection as well as law enforcement against violations in Hajj operations,” he emphasised.

In this regard, Indonesia has been allocated around 221,000 pilgrims for 2026, one of the largest quotas in the world.

The high public interest poses challenges in oversight and the potential for deviations.

Polri has identified several modus operandi, including the misuse of non-Hajj visas such as pilgrimage and work visas.

There are also offers of queue-free Hajj at high costs through furoda, mujamalah, or amil visas, which are actually not charged by the Saudi Arabian government.

Additionally, practices have been found involving the use of visas from other countries such as Malaysia, the Philippines, and Brunei Darussalam to illegally send Indonesian citizens to Saudi Arabia.

Polri has also recorded cases of pilgrims failing to depart from several embarkation points, such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Batam, and Makassar, as well as the abandonment of pilgrims abroad without assured services.