Saudi Arabia arrested more than 12,900 people in the past week as it looks to stop residency, labour and security breaches.
The inspection campaigns carried out in all regions of the Kingdom from June 6 to June 12, 2024, to check compliance with residency, work and border security regulations, saw 12,950 violations recorded, including
- 8,213 of residency
- 3,340 of border security
- 1,397 of labour laws
Some 817 individuals attempted to cross the border into the Kingdom illegally, of whom 40 per cent were Yemenis, 57 per cent Ethiopians, and 3 per cent of other nationalities.
104 people were arrested for attempting to illegally leave the Kingdom.
10 people involved in transporting, sheltering, or employing violators were arrested.
A total of 30,131 expatriates (29,154 men and 977 women) are currently undergoing procedures for enforcing regulations.
Among the people detained for violating laws, 22,461 were instructed to contact their countries’ embassies or consulates to obtain proper documentation for travel, 2,343 were told to complete booking arrangements for their departure, and 9,741 were repatriated.
The Ministry of Interior has warned that any person who facilitates the illegal entry of individuals into Saudi Arabia, transports them on its territory, provides them shelter or any other assistance or service may be penalized 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 impounded.
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 the Kingdom.
