22,993 Violators of Residence, Labor, Border Security Laws Apprehended in a Week

The Ministry of Interior conducted inspection campaigns in the Kingdom between October 03 to October 09 to ensure compliance with residency, labor and border security laws. The inspections yielded the following results: Across the Kingdom, 22,993 violations were recorded: 14,269 of residency, 5,230 of border security, and 3,494 of labor laws. Attempting to cross the border into the Kingdom illegally were 1,378 individuals, of whom 41% were Yemenis, 58% Ethiopians, and 01% of other nationalities; 80 people were arrested for attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally. Nineteen people involved in transporting, sheltering, and employing violators were arrested. A total of 15,136 expatriates (13,520 men and 1,616 women) are currently undergoing procedures for enforcing regulations. Seven thousand, two hundred and eleven people were detained for violating laws and instructed to contact their countries' embassies or consulates to obtain proper travel documentation; 2,381 were told to make booking arrangements f or their departure, and 11,907 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 penalized with up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to SAR1 million, 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 the Kingdom. Source: Saudi Press Agency