Surabaya Hajj Organisers: 18 Illegal Pilgrims Fall Under Non-Procedural Hajj Task Force Jurisdiction
The Hajj Organising Committee (PPIH) of the Surabaya Embarkation has emphasised that it is not responsible for the interception of 18 Indonesian citizens suspected of attempting to depart for Hajj illegally through Juanda International Airport.
The Chairman of the Surabaya Embarkation PPIH, Mohammad As’adul Anam, stated that the handling of non-procedural Hajj cases falls entirely under the authority of the relevant ministry and a special task force, rather than being part of the embarkation’s operational duties.
“It is not our responsibility. Illegal Hajj cases are not the responsibility of the Surabaya Embarkation PPIH, even if they passed through Surabaya,” As’adul Anam asserted in Surabaya on Monday.
Anam explained that, in accordance with regulations, the Ministry of Hajj has its own mechanisms to handle Hajj manipulation practices, including the formation of a Non-Procedural Hajj Task Force tasked with protecting the public from fraud disguised as religious worship.
“We leave the case entirely to the task force. The Surabaya Embarkation PPIH remains focused on the departure of official Hajj pilgrims from the Sukolilo Hajj Hostel in Surabaya,” he added.
Previously, officers from the Class I Special TPI Surabaya Immigration Office successfully thwarted the departure of 18 Indonesian citizens suspected of attempting to perform Hajj without official documentation. The group was intercepted while attempting to board a flight at Juanda Airport.
Based on investigations, the perpetrators attempted to use a flight route transiting from Surabaya to Kuala Lumpur. From Malaysia, they planned to continue their journey to Saudi Arabia to avoid the strict supervision of officials on direct routes.
The sharp instincts of immigration officers on the ground were key to the success of this interception, amidst efforts by authorities to tighten supervision against potential immigration violations during the 2026 Hajj season.