TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Saudi customs officers have confiscated 100 cartons of cigarettes from the luggage of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims at the Amir Muhammad bin Abdul Aziz (AMAA) Airport in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
Abdillah Muhammad, Deputy Head of the Indonesian Hajj Pilgrims' Services Organizing Committee (PPIH) in the Airport Area of Saudi Arabia, stated that discovering hundreds of cigarettes is not the first of its kind.
"This is not the first incident, but it is the largest one yet," said Abdillah as quoted from the Ministry of Religious Affairs website on Thursday, May 15, 2025.
He explained that the cigarettes were found in the luggage of the JKG flight group that arrived at 04.30 Saudi Arabian time. After passing through X-Ray inspection, Abdillah said, airport officials found around 1,000 packs of cigarettes scattered in nine pilgrims' suitcases. The local customs authorities immediately confiscated the items.
"The pilgrims were not present when the confiscation process took place. PPIH acted as the representative who coordinated with the airport authorities," said Abdillah. He mentioned that the detained suitcases will be returned to the pilgrims' hotel once the inspection is finished.
PPIH emphasized that bringing cigarettes in excess of the maximum limit of 2 cartons or 200 sticks per person not only poses a risk of confiscation, but fines could also be imposed.
Although the amount of fines for this year has not been confirmed, Abdillah added that based on last year's experience, a pilgrim was fined 200 Saudi Riyal, or the equivalent of Rp883,712 (at the exchange rate of Rp4,419 per 1 Riyal), for bringing more than a fifth of a carton of cigarettes.
"We continue to remind pilgrims to be disciplined and not violate the destination country's regulations," he said.
According to Abdillah, the discovery of 100 cartons of cigarettes in the luggage of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims is a serious warning for all Indonesian pilgrims. He urged the pilgrims to comply with the regulations of the Saudi Arabian government because their surveillance is rigid and sanctions are enforced without compromise.
"A blessed Hajj requires not only the intention of worship, but also compliance with the laws and regulations. Let's respect the rules of the country that welcomes us," he said.
Based on the Integrated Hajj Computer System or Siskohat, 85,678 Indonesian Hajj pilgrims have departed for Madinah in 218 flight groups (kloter). Of this number, 58 groups with 22,748 pilgrims have departed from Madinah and arrived in Makkah.
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