Dream - A number of videos have emerged on social media showing a group of hajj pilgrims allegedly from Indonesia being caught in a police raid in Saudi Arabia for not having a hajj visa. A video uploaded by the Instagram account of hajj and umrah travel agent @dwinstravel shows security officers in Mecca conducting a hajj visa raid on hotel guests.

"Not only did the officers comb the hotel area, but they also detained hajj pilgrims who were inside the bus. 'There are raids in hotels in Makkah for illegal hajj pilgrims who do not have a hajj visa, such as a pilgrimage visa. For friends, please pay attention if you want to worship, worship correctly and according to the rules,' said the video recorder."

"Be careful, those who come from Ji'ranah (miqat location), cars cannot pass through to Mecca. From Ji'ranah, which is close to entering here, the police detain everyone, eight buses. A hajj visa is required. The pilgrims do not have a hajj visa," he said. Dwins Travel revealed that the collection of videos was obtained from the Umrah and Hajj Association group. Their team in Saudi Arabia is still seeking further information regarding this matter."

The Saudi Arabian government is indeed tightening surveillance during this year's Hajj season in 2024. The Saudi Arabian Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Bin Fawzan Al Rabiah, stated that strict sanctions will be imposed on pilgrims who use unofficial visas for the Hajj pilgrimage. "The Saudi government does not allow, will not tolerate, and there will even be strong sanctions if it is proven that they perform the Hajj pilgrimage with a non-procedural visa. We will not allow that," said Tawfiq in Jakarta, on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has confirmed that it will only allow the implementation of the Hajj for pilgrims with Hajj and Mujamalah visas. Pilgrims who are caught entering the seven specific areas illegally will be fined SAR10,000 or approximately Rp42.8 million. These areas include Makkah, the central region, Masyair, the Haramain railway station in Rusayfah, the security control center, the quarantine center, and the temporary security control center.