Riyadh: In a week-long inspection campaign across Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Interior recorded 21,134 violations related to residency, labor, and border security laws. The campaign, conducted from November 20 to 26, highlighted significant non-compliance issues, including 13,128 violations related to residency, 4,826 related to border security, and 3,180 concerning labor laws.
According to Saudi Press Agency, border authorities apprehended 1,667 individuals attempting to illegally cross into the Kingdom. Among these, 42% were identified as Yemenis, 57% as Ethiopians, and 1% from other nationalities. Additionally, 31 individuals were arrested for attempting to exit the Kingdom illegally.
Authorities also arrested 14 people involved in the transportation, sheltering, and employment of violators. Currently, 31,091 expatriates, comprising 29,538 men and 1,553 women, are undergoing procedures to enforce regulatory compliance.
Meanwhile, 22,071 individuals were detained for violations and instructed to contact their respective embassies or consulates to secure proper travel documents. Furthermore, 5,078 were advised to arrange their travel plans, and 11,674 individuals were successfully repatriated.
The Ministry of Interior issued a warning concerning the facilitation of illegal entry into the Kingdom, including transportation, sheltering, or assisting violators. The penalties for such actions can be severe, reaching up to 15 years in prison and fines up to SAR1 million. Additionally, vehicles and properties used in these activities are subject to confiscation.
The ministry underscored that these acts are considered major crimes warranting arrest and urged the public to report any violations by contacting 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, or 999 and 996 in other areas of the Kingdom.