Oman has said it has arrested an expatriate linked to an international ring running the illegal business of smuggling migrants to Europe.
Royal Oman police said the Directorate General of Inquiries and Criminal Investigations, in coordination with the International Police (Interpol), had arrested a resident of Egyptian nationality found to be involved with an international network in carrying out multiple migrant smuggling operations from various countries to Europe in exchange for financial payments.
There were no immediate details about how many suspects are linked to the racket and when it was uncovered.
In another case, Oman arrested six Afghans while attempting to enter the country illegally. The arrests were made by the coastguard police while attempting the illegal entry in the Wilayat of Bukha, part of the Musandam governorate overlooking the Arabian Gulf.
While cracking down on illegal foreigners, Oman has recently granted citizenship to several persons, who met certain criteria.
Under Omani law, citizenship may be granted to individuals born in or outside Oman to an Omani parent.
Foreigners can apply for naturalisation if they meet specific conditions, including being an adult proficient in Arabic reading and writing, having a continuous legal residence of at least 20 years (or for 10 years only to foreign men if married to an Omani woman), displaying good conduct, and having a legal livelihood.
Last October, Oman’s Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik issued royal decrees granting Omani citizenship to 198 individuals.
Foreigners account for around 2.2 million of Oman’s overall population of 5.2 million, according to recent official figures.
