Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and Police Agree to Form Task Force to Prevent Illegal Hajj Practices

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) and the National Police (Polri) have agreed to form a Hajj Task Force to prevent potential illegal hajj practices ahead of the 1447 Hijriah hajj or 2026. The formation of this task force was agreed upon during a meeting between Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak and Deputy Police Chief Komjen Dedi Prasetyo at the Kemenhaj office in Jakarta on Thursday (9/4/2026). “Today, we with Mr Deputy Minister of Hajj have agreed to immediately form the Hajj Task Force. This Hajj Task Force, from the central to regional levels, will carry out its duties,” said Dedi after the meeting with Dahnil on Thursday afternoon. “So that they do not become victims of criminal acts of fraud by hajj travel agencies using various modus operandi,” he added. He explained that through the Hajj Task Force, Polri will prevent the departure of illegal hajj pilgrims through various Indonesian exit points. Dedi also assured that there will be firm action against any criminal acts committed by hajj travel agencies or other groups in illegal hajj practices. This is because last year, 1,200 people were prevented from departing to Saudi Arabia with non-hajj visas. Dahnil stated that this year the government wants to prevent illegal hajj practices that may occur through various modus operandi. In addition to protection and security for pilgrims, the Head of State has also asked Kemenhaj to ensure that adjustments to this year’s hajj costs, which have the potential to increase, are not burdened on the pilgrims. “That was, for example, the President’s directive when there was a significant increase in aviation fuel due to global dynamics; the President decided that the burden of the increase should not be given or passed on to the pilgrims,” said Dahnil.