Indonesia Forms Task Force to Safeguard 2026 Hajj Pilgrims

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The first Indonesian Hajj group for 2026 is scheduled to depart for Saudi Arabia on April 22, 2026. Indonesia’s official quota this year is 221,000 pilgrims, consisting of 203,320 regular pilgrims and 17,680 special pilgrims.

The National Police (Polri) and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) have officially established the 2026 Hajj Task Force to safeguard prospective pilgrims from fraud and unlawful activity. The move follows President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to ensure comprehensive protection for Indonesian Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.

“We established this Task Force to ensure Indonesian pilgrims are protected and do not fall victim to fraud using various methods. The Task Force will adopt a comprehensive approach, from education to law enforcement, operating in an integrated manner from the central government to the regions,” said Deputy National Police Chief Com. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo in Jakarta on Thursday, April 9, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The Task Force will prioritize education, prevention, and enforcement. Preventive measures include strict surveillance at airports and seaports, while enforcement will target fraudsters and illegal Hajj organizers. To accelerate responses to public complaints, the Task Force will also establish an integrated hotline.

Coordination will extend to Saudi Arabia, with personnel deployed to strengthen communication with security forces in Jeddah and Mecca to ensure the safety of Indonesian pilgrims abroad.

Dedi urged the public to be cautious of offers involving illegal visas, to verify that travel agencies are properly licensed, and to report any signs of fraud immediately. “The modus operandi will keep changing. As a result, public vigilance is crucial,” he said, adding that the National Police would take firm measures to protect pilgrims.

Earlier, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, through its Center for Data and Information Technology (Pusdatin), issued an official warning about the rise in fraudulent schemes targeting prospective pilgrims. These scams are typically carried out via phone calls and text messages under the pretext of validating or updating pilgrim data.

Pusdatin Head Farosa said the warning was disseminated as a preventive measure to raise public awareness of potential misuse of personal data. “The public who receive suspicious communications are asked to immediately report or verify through the official social media accounts of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah or visit the nearest regional office,” Farosa said on April 7, 2026, as quoted on the ministry's official website.

The ministry emphasized the importance of the slogan #DataAmanIbadahNyaman (“Secure Data, Comfortable Worship”) and instructed the public to always verify information through official channels, avoid clicking suspicious links, and protect personal data by not sharing it with unknown contacts. ***