The Ministry of Interior conducted inspection campaigns in the Kingdom between May 15 and 21 to ensure compliance with residency, labor, and border security laws.
The inspections yielded the following results:
Across the Kingdom, 13,118 violations were recorded: 8,150 of residency, 3,344 of border security, and 1,624 of labor laws.
Attempting to cross the border into the Kingdom illegally were 1,207 individuals, of whom 37% were Yemenis, 61% Ethiopians, and 02% of other nationalities; 94 people were arrested for attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally.
Some 13 people involved in transporting, sheltering, and employing violators were arrested.
A total of 21,872 expatriates (20,616 men and 1,256 women) are currently undergoing procedures for enforcing regulations.
A total of 15,936 individuals were detained for violating laws and instructed to contact their countries’ embassies or consulates to obtain proper travel documentation; 1,359 were told to make booking arrangements for their departure, and 11,566 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, and 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 Makkah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, and 999 and 996 in the rest of the Kingdom.