Polri and Ministry of Hajj Form Hajj Task Force, Prepare Special Hotline for Fraud

The Indonesian National Police Headquarters (Mabes Polri) and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) have formed a Hajj Task Force to safeguard prospective pilgrims from illegal Hajj practices to scams. The agreement to establish the Hajj Task Force was signed by Deputy Chief of Police Commissioner General Dedi Prasetyo and Deputy Minister of Hajj Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak on Thursday (9/4). Dedi stated that the formation of the task force aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to provide comprehensive protection for Indonesian Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. He mentioned that the Hajj Task Force will be responsible for conducting outreach, prevention, and legal enforcement against perpetrators of scams and illegal Hajj. “We are forming this task force to ensure that the public is protected and does not become victims of scams through various methods,” he said in a written statement. Dedi added that the Hajj Task Force will prepare a special complaint hotline to accelerate responses to public reports. He noted that the losses from illegal Hajj practices amounted to Rp92.64 billion. He said that throughout 2025, the police managed to prevent 1,243 prospective pilgrims from departing using non-Hajj visas, with the largest number through Soekarno-Hatta Airport. On that occasion, Dedi also urged the public not to be tempted by Hajj offers using unofficial visas. He asked the public to ensure that travel agencies have official permits and to report immediately if they find indications of scams. “The methods will continue to evolve. Therefore, public vigilance is key. Polri will act firmly to protect the public,” he stated. Furthermore, he said that Polri will also station members in Saudi Arabia as well as serve as a communication bridge with security apparatus in Jeddah and Mecca. Meanwhile, Dahnil said that the Hajj Task Force is also formed to ensure that Hajj costs do not increasingly burden the public. He also emphasised that global cost increases will not be directly passed on to pilgrims. “The state is present to protect pilgrims, both in terms of security and financing,” he stated.