Riyadh: The Ministry of Interior conducted inspection campaigns in the Kingdom between January 09 to January 15 to ensure compliance with residency, labor and border security laws.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the inspections yielded the following results: Across the Kingdom, 21,485 violations were recorded: 13,562 of residency, 4,853 of border security, and 3,070 of labor laws. Attempting to cross the border into the Kingdom illegally were 1,568 individuals, of whom 47% were Yemenis, 50% Ethiopians, and 03% of other nationalities; 64 people were arrested for attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally.
Sixteen people involved in transporting, sheltering, and employing violators were arrested. A total of 33,007 expatriates (30,335 men and 2,672 women) are currently undergoing procedures for enforcing regulations. Twenty-five thousand, one hundred and sixty-four were detained for violating laws and instructed to contact their countries’ embassies or consulates to obtain proper travel documentation; 2,864 were told to make booking arrangements for their departure, and 11,955 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.