Saudi Arabia arrested more than 19,000 people in the past week as it looks to stop residency, labour and security breaches.
The inspection campaigns carried out between November 21 and November 27 in all regions of the Kingdom, to check compliance with residency, work and border security regulations, saw 19,024 violations recorded, including:
- 11,268 of residency
- 4,773 of border security
- 2,983 of labour laws
Saudi residency, labour and security arrests
1,212 individuals were apprehended attempting to cross the border into the Kingdom illegally, of whom 25 per cent were Yemenis, 73 per cent Ethiopians, and 2 per cent of other nationalities.
122 people were arrested for attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally.
22 people involved in transporting, sheltering, and employing violators were arrested.
A total of 24,107 expatriates (21,176 men and 2,931 women) are currently undergoing procedures for enforcing regulations.
15,970 people were detained for violating laws and instructed to contact their countries’ embassies or consulates to obtain proper travel documentation; 2,633 were told to make booking arrangements for their departure, and 10,537 were repatriated.
The Ministry of Interior has warned that any person who facilitates the illegal entry of individuals into the Kingdom, transports them on its territory, provides them with shelter or any other assistance or service may be penalised with up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to SR1m ($267,000), and that the vehicles used for transport or houses used for shelter may be confiscated.
The ministry stressed that such acts are major crimes that warrant arrest. It also urges people to report any violations by calling 911 in the Makkah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, and 999 and 996 in the rest of Saudi Arabia.
