Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
Riyadh, Jun 14: Saudi authorities arrested 10,725 people for violating residency, labour and border security regulations during nationwide inspection campaigns conducted between June 4 and June 10, the Ministry of Interior announced.
The arrests were carried out through coordinated operations involving security agencies and relevant government departments across the Kingdom.
According to the ministry, those detained included 5,899 individuals accused of breaching residency laws, 3,084 charged with violating border security regulations and 1,742 found in violation of labour rules.
As part of ongoing enforcement measures, authorities deported 7,989 illegal residents during the reporting period. An additional 14,268 violators were referred to their respective diplomatic missions to secure travel documents, while 1,240 others were directed to complete departure procedures before leaving the country.
The ministry also reported the arrest of 1,418 people attempting to enter Saudi Arabia illegally. Of those detained, 55 per cent were Ethiopian nationals, 43 per cent were Yemeni nationals and the remaining two per cent belonged to other nationalities.
In a separate development, security forces arrested 34 individuals who were allegedly trying to leave the Kingdom through illegal channels.
Authorities further detained 18 people accused of facilitating violations by transporting, harbouring, employing or otherwise assisting individuals who had breached residency, labour or border regulations.
The ministry said that 22,026 expatriates are currently undergoing legal procedures linked to enforcement actions. This group includes 20,459 men and 1,567 women.
Reiterating the Kingdom’s strict stance on immigration-related offences, the Ministry of Interior warned that anyone found aiding illegal entry, providing shelter, transportation or any form of assistance to violators could face penalties of up to 15 years in prison and fines reaching SR1 million. Assets used in committing such offences, including vehicles and properties, may also be subject to confiscation.
The ministry urged citizens and residents to report violations through emergency numbers 911 in Makkah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.