Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Indonesian National Police (INP) exposed several fraudulent methods used by illegal travel syndicates on Friday (17/4/2026), including the misuse of non-hajj visas and foreign residency permits to bypass official quotas in Jakarta.

"Suspects often deploy pilgrims early using tourist or work visas to obtain residency permits, which are then illegally used for Hajj activities," said Inspector General Nunung Syaifuddin, the Deputy Chief of the Criminal Investigation Agency, as reported by antaranews.com..

Beyond visa manipulation, police identified Ponzi schemes where funds from new registrants are used to finance previous departures. Some syndicates even utilize visas from neighboring countries like Malaysia and the Philippines to funnel Indonesians into Saudi Arabia. These operations frequently result in pilgrims being abandoned abroad without accommodation or valid legal standing.

The INP have now established a dedicated Hajj and Umrah Task Force to intensify enforcement against unregistered travel agencies. This unit focuses on prosecuting fraud, embezzlement, and document falsification to protect citizens from financial ruin and legal trouble overseas.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)