2 Cigarette Sacks Owned By 1 Indonesian Congregation Becomes The Biggest Confiscation During The 2023 Hajj

Illustration. Prospective Hajj using an umbrella minimizes the heat after Zuhur prayers at the Grand Mosque of Makkah on Tuesday 6 June. (ANTARA-Wahyu Putro A).

JAKARTA - A candidate for Indonesian pilgrims in the flying group (kloter) 65 Surabaya Embarkation (SUB-65) was caught carrying two suitcases full of cigarettes.

The Head of the Saudi Arabian Haryanto Haryanto Hajj Organizing Officer (PPIH) said the Hajj candidate also carried four large suitcases of cigarettes mixed with clothes.

The luggage of the excessive Hajj candidate was detected when the suitcase passed an X-Ray Customs check on King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

"Today, one batch that landed in Jeddah SUB-65 had problems, the pilgrims carried six suitcases, two of them were all cigarettes, and four of them had cigarettes," he said when confirmed by the Hajj Media Center (MCH) team in Jeddah, Makkah, Saturday, June 17 evening Saudi Arabia time.

The six suitcases of prospective pilgrims were then forcibly dismantled by the Jeddah Airport Customs and Excise officer. All the large quantities of cigarettes were also confiscated by Saudi Arabian Customs officers.

"Well, what can be brought is a suitcase that is empty, so we leave the suitcase with the next batch to be submitted to the congregation concerned," said Haryanto.

Hariyanto said that fortunately the congregation was not detained by the Saudi Arabian authorities because at that time the congregation had already entered the bus to be dispatched to Makkah Al-Mukarramah with his entourage.

Meanwhile, all the cigarettes found in the suitcase were confiscated by Customs officers at Jeddah Airport.

"This is one of the pilgrims who brought in excess, so they were confiscated. If you bring them with you, for example, there are no problems," said Haryanto.

Haryanto added that the findings of the two suitcases full of cigarettes were the largest findings during the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage. That's because, he said, after being collected, the amount of seized cigarettes reached two large sacks.

"There are approximately two large bags, almost like sacks, two sacks," said Haryanto.

Haryanto again reminded the congregation not to bring excessive goods to the Holy Land, either in the form of cigarettes, cooking spices, herbal medicines, or drugs, because excessive luggage can be suspected as an effort to smuggle that can have implications for criminal cases.

"So far, Saudi Arabia's Customs and Excise has been confiscated. Hopefully it doesn't reach the realm of law," said Haryanto.

Haryanto admitted that he could not confirm what the motive for the congregation to bring cigarettes up to two full suitcases. "Later we will try to find the head of the group for communication, what kind of cigarettes are actually for," he said.