Riyadh: The Ministry of Interior conducted inspection campaigns in the Kingdom between May 15 and 21 to ensure compliance with residency, labor, and border security laws.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the inspections yielded significant results, with 13,118 violations recorded across the Kingdom. These comprised 8,150 residency violations, 3,344 border security breaches, and 1,624 labor law infractions. The operations also intercepted 1,207 individuals attempting to cross the border into the Kingdom illegally, with 37% identified as Yemenis, 61% as Ethiopians, and 02% from other nationalities. Additionally, 94 individuals were arrested for attempts to leave the Kingdom illegally.
Further enforcement actions included the arrest of 13 people involved in the transportation, sheltering, and employment of violators. The Ministry reported that 21,872 expatriates, consisting of 20,616 men and 1,256 women, are currently undergoing procedures for enforcing regulations.
The crackdown has led to the detention of 15,936 individuals, who have been instructed to contact their respective embassies or consulates to secure proper travel documentation. Of these, 1,359 were directed to arrange bookings for their departure, and 11,566 have already been repatriated.
The Ministry of Interior has issued a stern warning that facilitating the illegal entry of individuals into the Kingdom, transporting them within its territory, or providing them with shelter or other assistance may result in severe penalties. These include up to 15 years in prison, fines of up to SAR1 million, and the confiscation of vehicles or houses used in such activities.
The ministry emphasized that such acts are considered major crimes warranting arrest and urged the public to report any violations by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern regions, and 999 and 996 in the rest of the Kingdom.