Saudi Arabia arrested 15,430 violators in a week-long crackdown
Saudi Arabia arrested 15,430 people in a nationwide enforcement campaign over the past week for violating residency, work and border security regulations, according to the Ministry of Interior, Arab News reported.Official figures showed that 7,913 people were arrested for residency-related violations, while 3,480 people were arrested for labor law violations. Another 4,037 people were detained for attempting to cross the Kingdom’s borders illegally.The ministry said that 1,542 people were intercepted while trying to enter Saudi Arabia illegally. Of these, 53 percent are Ethiopian citizens, 46 percent are Yemenis, and the remaining 1 percent are of other nationalities.The authorities also arrested 30 people who attempted to leave the Kingdom illegally, and arrested 27 other people accused of transporting, harboring, or assisting immigration violators.The Ministry of Interior warned that anyone who facilitates illegal entry into Saudi Arabia by providing transportation, accommodation or other forms of assistance may face a prison sentence of up to 15 years, fines of up to one million Saudi riyals, and confiscation of vehicles or property used in the crime.The Ministry urged community members to report suspected violations by calling 911 in the Mecca and Riyadh regions, or 999 and 996 in the rest of the Kingdom’s regions.
