Police Investigate Illegal Hajj Case Using Labour Visa Modus Operandi

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Polri is currently investigating the suspected case of illegal Hajj departures using the modus operandi of labour visas.

Director of Specific Crimes (Dirtipidter) of Bareskrim Polri, Brigadier General Pol. Moh. Irhamni, at the Bareskrim Polri Building in Jakarta on Thursday, stated that the case came to light after the foiling of the departure of eight prospective illegal Hajj pilgrims.

“In cooperation with our immigration counterparts at Soekarno-Hatta, we conducted an examination on 18 April of eight individuals suspected of engaging in illegal Hajj activities,” he said.

He revealed that based on initial examinations, the parties allegedly involved have facilitated illegal Hajj departures 127 times since 2024.

The modus operandi used is offering Hajj without long queues by utilising labour visas.

He explained that they target Indonesian citizens, then recruit them to undertake or be sent on illegal Hajj under the guise of and using labour visas.

“They are ostensibly sent to work in Saudi Arabia, but in their conversations and on their mobile phones, we found that their intention is to perform Hajj,” he added.

He assured that they will pursue the parties allegedly involved in this case, including the companies that send the prospective pilgrims.

“The perpetrators carrying out this will also be examined, and we will pursue those perpetrators,” he added.

Furthermore, the one-star police general also reminded the public not to be tempted by offers of instant and easy Hajj departures.

“Do not be lured if invited or offered to register with them. Usually, the modus operandi is with labour visas. After arriving there, they perform the Hajj pilgrimage,” he said.

Polri is part of the Hajj and Umrah Task Force.