Polri Reveals Various Modus Operandi of Illegal Hajj Practices

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian National Police has revealed several modus operandi in the practice of organising illegal Hajj pilgrimages, which pose risks to prospective pilgrims. Deputy Head of the Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) of Polri, Inspector General of Police Nunung Syaifuddin, stated in Jakarta on Friday that, based on monitoring results, one of the methods identified is the misuse of non-Hajj visas, such as pilgrimage or work visas. “The method involves sending prospective pilgrims ahead of time to obtain a residence permit (iqamah), which is then used for Hajj,” Nunung said. Additionally, there are offers of Hajj without queuing at high costs that do not comply with official regulations, exploiting furoda visas, mujamalah, or amil visas, which are essentially not charged by the Saudi Arabian government. Polri also discovered the use of visas from other countries, such as Malaysia, the Philippines, and Brunei Darussalam, to illegally send Indonesian citizens through those countries to Saudi Arabia. Other identified cases include pilgrims failing to depart from several international embarkation points, such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Batam, and Makassar, as well as the abandonment of pilgrims abroad without clear accommodation, transportation, or certainty of performing the worship. “These methods are often exploited by certain individuals to carry out fraudulent practices and non-procedural departures that harm the public,” Nunung stated. Polri also highlighted the existence of illegal Hajj and Umrah travel agencies that are not registered as Official Hajj Special Worship Organisers (PIHK) or Official Umrah Travel Organisers (PPIU). These illegal agencies generally use fake identities or affiliations, offer non-transparent packages, and lack service standards and pilgrim protection. Nunung said that the Polri Hajj Task Force will prioritise three main strategies: preemptive, preventive, and law enforcement efforts. In terms of law enforcement, Polri will firmly address perpetrators of fraud, embezzlement, and document misuse, including regulating illegal travel agencies. “Bareskrim Polri is collaborating with the Ministry of Religious Affairs in enforcing the law against various violations in Hajj worship organisation,” he said. “We urge the public to ensure Hajj registration through official channels, verify the legality of travel agencies, avoid being tempted by queue-free Hajj offers, and use official Hajj visas,” he added.