Inp.polri.go.id - Tangerang. Soekarno Hatta Airport Sub-regional Police in Tangerang, Banteng, have again foiled the departure of 36 would-be Hajj pilgrims attempting to travel illegally using non-Hajj visas. 

The group included 34 pilgrims and 2 escorts who planned to fly via Colombo and Riyadh using work visas.

““The suspects used the same method—transit flights,” said Senior Inspector Yandri Mono, the Head of the Soekarno Hatta Airport Police Head of Criminal Investigation on Wednesday (7/5/2025), as quoted by antaranews.com.

The group, originating from several provinces including Central Java, Lampung, and South Sulawesi, reportedly paid Rp 139–175 million to organizers, identified as IA and NF. The two allegedly misled victims by claiming prior success organizing similar trips and promising pilgrims could obtain Saudi residency permits upon arrival.

Authorities are charging both IA and NF under multiple articles, with possible penalties of up to six years in prison and Rp 6 billion in fines.

The Soekarno-Hatta Police have foiled 117 nonprocedural Hajj attempts in recent weeks.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)