Riyadh: In a series of inspection campaigns conducted across Saudi Arabia from June 18 to June 24, the Ministry of Interior identified 15,231 violations related to residency, labor, and border security laws. These violations include 7,589 residency-related offenses, 4,443 border security infractions, and 3,199 breaches of labor laws.
According to Saudi Press Agency, border authorities detained 1,763 individuals attempting to illegally enter the Kingdom. Of these, 44% were identified as Yemeni nationals, 55% as Ethiopians, and the remaining 1% from other nationalities. Additionally, 53 people were arrested for attempting to exit the Kingdom illegally.
A further 22 individuals were apprehended for their involvement in transporting, sheltering, and employing violators of these laws. Currently, 26,407 expatriates, comprising 24,334 men and 2,073 women, are undergoing procedures to enforce compliance with the regulations.
During the operation, 16,369 individuals were detained for regulatory violations and instructed to contact their respective countries' embassies or consulates to acquire proper travel documents. Moreover, 3,618 individuals were advised to arrange travel plans, and 11,297 were successfully repatriated.
The Ministry of Interior issued a stern warning regarding the facilitation of illegal entry, transportation, or harboring of individuals within the Kingdom. Those found guilty may face penalties of 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 reiterated that these actions are considered major crimes warranting arrest and encouraged the public to report any violations by contacting 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, or 999 and 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.
Source: Saudi Press Agency