Arab News, Sunday, Aug 22, 2021 | Muharram 14, 1443
Nearly 16k held for residency, labor, border violations in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia:
Nearly 16,000 violators of
residency, work and border security systems have been arrested in the Kingdom in
five days, according to an official report.
In the campaigns that took place in all regions of
the Kingdom from Aug. 8-12, there have been 15,900 offenders, including 5,436
for violating residency regulations, 1,389 for labor violations and 9,075 for
border violations.
The report said that 454 people were arrested
while trying to cross the border into the Kingdom: 45 percent were Yemeni
citizens, 51 percent were Ethiopians, and 4 percent were of other nationalities.
In addition, 23 people were arrested for trying to
cross into neighboring countries, and eight were arrested for involvement in
transporting and harboring violators.
The authorities transferred 58,317 offenders to
their respective diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, while 3,887
were transferred to complete their travel reservations and 8,128 were deported.
The Ministry of Interior said that whoever
facilitates the entry of violators to the Kingdom, transports them or provides
shelter or any other form of support will face imprisonment for up to 15 years,
a fine of up to SR1 million ($260,000), and confiscation of the means of
transport or residence employed in the violation.