Saudi Gazette3 hours agoCrime1 min readSaudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia arrests 11,819 illegal residents in one week, Ministry of Interior reports

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Saudi security authorities arrested 11,819 illegal residents between September 24 and 30, including 5,793 for residency violations, 3,307 for border security breaches, and 2,719 for labor law violations, with 9,992 deported and thousands referred for travel documentation.

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Saudi Arabia conducts regular joint inspections by security forces and government agencies to enforce residency, border security, and labor laws, targeting illegal residence and employment violations.

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RIYADH — Saudi security authorities arrested a total of 11,819 illegal residents in a week. The arrests were made in the joint inspections, carried out by the security forces in collaboration with the relevant government agencies, during the period between September 24 and 30, the Ministry of Interior announced on Saturday.

Those who were arrested include 5,793 violators of the Residency Law, 3,307 violators of the Border Security Law, and 2,719 violators of the Labor Law. A total of 9,992 illegal residents were deported while 19,893 violators were referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents and 4,091 violators were referred to complete their travel reservations.

The total number of people who were arrested while trying to cross the border into the Kingdom accounted for 1,382, of whom 38 percent were Yemeni nationals, 61 percent Ethiopian nationals, and one percent belonged to other nationalities. A total of 32 people were arrested while attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally.

Some 19 people involved in giving transportation, shelter, and employment for violators were also arrested. A total of 32,139 expatriates, including 29,934 men and 2,205 women, are currently undergoing procedures to enforce legal measures for violations.

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, will be penalized with up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to SR1 million, and that the vehicles used for transportation or houses used for giving shelter will be confiscated.

The ministry urged the public to report any cases of violation by calling the number 911 in the regions of Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province and the numbers 999 and 996 in the rest of the Kingdom’s regions.

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