Over 15,800 violators of residency, labor, and border laws arrested in one week

Joint field campaigns to monitor and apprehend violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations across all regions of the Kingdom, conducted from 24/1 to 1/2/1448 AH (corresponding to July 9 to 15, 2026), resulted in the following outcomes:

First: A total of 15,836 violators were arrested in the joint security field campaigns across the Kingdom, including 7,892 for residency violations, 4,617 for border security violations, and 3,327 for labor law violations.

Second: A total of 1,631 individuals were apprehended while attempting to illegally cross into the Kingdom—33% were Yemeni nationals, 65% Ethiopian nationals, and 2% of other nationalities. Additionally, 42 people were caught trying to illegally exit the Kingdom.

Third: Twenty-one individuals were arrested for involvement in transporting, harboring, employing, or concealing violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations.

Fourth: Currently, 30,139 violators are undergoing procedures for implementing regulations, including 28,087 men and 2,052 women.

Fifth: A total of 17,273 violators have been referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, 6,160 have been referred to complete travel bookings, and 12,211 have been deported.

The Ministry of Interior stressed that anyone facilitating the entry, internal transport, shelter, or provision of any assistance or service to violators of border security regulations faces penalties of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to 1 million riyals (SAR), confiscation of the means of transport and accommodation used, and public naming. The ministry clarified that this offense is considered a major crime warranting detention and is deemed dishonorable. The public is urged to report violations by calling 911 in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 and 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.