Polri and Ministry of Hajj Form 2026 Hajj Task Force to Crack Down on Illegal Travel Agencies and Hajj Pilgrims' Scammers

The government is acting swiftly to protect prospective Indonesian Hajj pilgrims. The Indonesian National Police, in collaboration with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, has officially formed the 2026 Hajj Task Force to eradicate illegal Hajj practices and fraud. The establishment of this task force follows instructions from President Prabowo Subianto. The agreement was reached during a meeting between Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak and Deputy Chief of Police Commissioner General Dedi Prasetyo at the Ministry’s office in Jakarta on Thursday, 9 April 2026. In this step, Polri emphasises that the Hajj Task Force will operate in an integrated manner from the central to regional levels with a comprehensive approach, ranging from education to law enforcement. “We are forming this task force to ensure that the public is protected and does not become victims of scams through various methods,” stated the Deputy Chief of Police. The strategies to be implemented include massive socialisation to prevent the public from being deceived by illegal travel agencies, strict monitoring at airports and ports, and firm action against fraud perpetrators. In addition, Polri will open a unified complaint hotline to accelerate responses to public reports. Polri data indicates that the threat of Hajj scams remains high. Currently, 42 cases are being processed legally, one case has advanced to the next stage, with total losses reaching Rp92.64 billion. Furthermore, in 2025, authorities successfully thwarted the departure of 1,243 prospective pilgrims using non-Hajj visas, with the largest number at Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Strengthening of surveillance is also being carried out abroad. Polri will deploy personnel in Saudi Arabia to enhance coordination with security apparatus in Jeddah and Mecca, to ensure optimal pilgrim protection. Meanwhile, Dahnil emphasised that the formation of the task force aligns with the government’s two main focuses: providing full protection to pilgrims and ensuring Hajj costs do not become increasingly burdensome for the public. “The state is present to protect pilgrims, both in terms of security and financing,” said Dahnil. Polri also urges the public to be more vigilant against various scam methods. Prospective pilgrims are advised not to be tempted by Hajj offers with unofficial visas and to ensure that the travel agencies used have official permits.