Saudi Arabia Arrests 21,151 Illegals in One Week
Saudi authorities arrested 21,151 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, local sources reported on Saturday.
According to an official report, a total of 13,799 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 4,768 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 2,584 for labour-related issues.
The report showed that among the 1,283 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 72 percent were Ethiopian, 25 percent were Yemeni, and 3 percent were of other nationalities.
A further 67 people were caught trying to cross into neighbouring countries, and eight were held for involvement in transporting and harbouring violators.
The Saudi Ministry of Interior said that anyone found to be facilitating illegal entry to the Kingdom, including providing transportation and shelter, could face imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million ($260,000), as well as confiscation of vehicles and property.
Suspected violations can be reported on the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.
