Indonesia stops 80 citizens from illegal Hajj pilgrimage

hartono · May 8, 2026

The atmosphere at Terminal 3 International Departures of Soekarno-Hatta Airport. (ANTARA/HO-Directorate General of Immigration Public Relations)

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian authorities have intercepted 80 citizens at several international airports for attempting to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj pilgrimage illegally, highlighting a massive crackdown on non-procedural departures this season.

The interceptions were coordinated by the Task Force for the Prevention of Illegal Hajj, a strategic coalition comprising the Ministry of Hajj, the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, and the National Police.

Secretary of the Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah Rizka Anungnata confirmed on Friday that enforcement actions were concentrated at major transit hubs.

“Until today, 80 enforcement actions have been carried out by immigration colleagues across several locations," Rizka said.

The majority of the stops occurred at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, where 57 individuals were detained, followed by 15 in Surabaya, five in Medan, and three in Yogyakarta.

The Task Force was established as a vital instrument for citizen protection and law enforcement.

Officials emphasized that traveling without a valid Hajj visa—the only permit recognized by Saudi authorities for entry into Mecca during the pilgrimage—leaves Indonesians vulnerable to deportation, heavy fines, and the risk of being stranded abroad.

Beyond individual safety, the government noted that these unauthorized attempts impact Indonesia’s international reputation and the integrity of the official Hajj quota system.

Rizka stated that the government is taking lessons from previous cases in which many Indonesians faced serious legal problems after attempting to perform the pilgrimage through unauthorized channels.

These preventive measures are also intended to support the Saudi Arabian government’s efforts to maintain security and order during the large-scale religious gathering.

Meanwhile, the National Police are investigating networks suspected of facilitating the illegal trips.

Senior Commissioner Pipit Subiyanto stated that the Indonesian police have received 95 preliminary reports related to non-procedural Hajj departures.

Authorities are currently working to identify the methods used by travel syndicates to bypass official regulations, with several cases already progressing from investigation to prosecution at the provincial level.

Officials urged the public to strictly follow official procedures and government-approved channels to ensure both safety and the sanctity of the pilgrimage, warning that bypassing regulations could ultimately create hardship for pilgrims and their families.

“We urge the public to carry out worship in accordance with the rules, standard operating procedures, and the authority of the ministry,” Pipit concluded.