Saudi security authorities arrested a total of 21,647 illegal immigrants in a week. The arrests were made in a joint operation conducted by security forces in cooperation with relevant government agencies between October 30 and November 5, the Interior Ministry announced on Saturday.
Among those arrested were 12,838 violators of the residency law, 4,564 violators of the border security law and 4,245 violators of the labor law.
A total of 12,098 illegal residents were deported, 21,800 violators were sent to their diplomatic missions to collect travel documents, and 6,012 violators were sent to complete their travel reservations The total number of people arrested while trying to enter Saudi Arabia by crossing the border was 1,943, of whom 45 percent were Yemeni citizens, 54 percent were Ethiopian citizens, and one percent were citizens of other nationalities. A total of 37 people were arrested while trying to leave Saudi Arabia illegally.
Twenty-six people were arrested for transporting, sheltering and providing employment to violators of the law. A total of 32,801 expatriates, including 31,207 men and 1,594 women, are currently in the process of taking legal action.
The Ministry of Interior warned that anyone who helps individuals enter Saudi Arabia illegally, transports them to the country, shelters them or provides any other assistance or cooperation will be punished with up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to 1 million riyals, and the vehicles used for transportation or houses used for shelter will be confiscated.
The ministry called on the public to report any incidents of violations of the law by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and 999 and 996 in other regions of the kingdom.
