Saudi Arabia arrests 14,780 illegals in a week

RIYADH — Around 14,780 violators of residency and labor laws and border security regulations have been arrested in various regions of the Kingdom within a week. The arrests were made during joint field campaigns carried out by various units of security forces and the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) during the period from November 18 to 24.

Those arrested included 7,552 violators of the residency laws, about 5,699 violators of the border security regulations, and more than 1,529 violators of the labor law.

A total of 429 people were arrested while trying to cross the border into the Kingdom, of whom 70 percent were Yemeni nationals, 28 percent were Ethiopians, and 2 percent belonged to other nationalities while 36 people were arrested for trying to flee the Kingdom crossing borders. The security forces also arrested 14 people who were involved in transporting violators and giving them shelter.

The total number of violators, who are currently subject to the punitive measures, accounted for more than 87,653 including more than 79,744 men and 7,909women, while the cases of 75,649 violators were referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents for their deportation.

The Ministry of Interior has warned that anyone who is caught facilitating anyone to enter the Kingdom in violation of the border security regulations, or provides him transportation or shelter or any assistance or service in any way, shall be awarded a maximum jail term of 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million, and the confiscation of the means of transportation, and the residence used for shelter, in addition to publicizing their names in the local media.