RIYADH — Saudi security authorities arrested 13,905 people for violating residency, labor and border security regulations during nationwide inspection campaigns conducted from October 15 to 21, the Ministry of Interior announced Saturday.
The arrests included 6,554 violators of residency regulations, 3,865 violators of border security laws and 3,486 violators of labor regulations.
The ministry said security forces also apprehended 1,881 people attempting to enter the Kingdom illegally, while 22 others were arrested for attempting to leave the country through unauthorized border crossings.
Another 21 individuals were arrested for their involvement in transporting, sheltering, employing or concealing violators of residency, labor and border security regulations.
According to the ministry, a total of 37,618 expatriate violators are currently undergoing legal procedures, including 35,449 men and 2,169 women.
Authorities referred 20,252 violators to their respective diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, while 6,555 others were referred to complete travel arrangements.
A total of 7,934 violators were deported during the reporting period.
The Ministry of Interior reiterated that anyone who facilitates the illegal entry of border security violators into Saudi Arabia, transports them within the Kingdom, provides shelter or offers any form of assistance faces severe penalties.
These include imprisonment for up to 15 years, fines of up to SR1 million, confiscation of vehicles and properties used to shelter violators, and public disclosure of the offenders’ identities.
The ministry stressed that such offenses are classified as major crimes warranting arrest and involving breaches of honor and trust.
It urged the public to report violations by calling 911 in the Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and Eastern Province regions, or 999 and 996 in other parts of the Kingdom.
Source: Saudi Gazette