Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — A Nation Without Violations campaign has netted as many as 951,555 expatriates for various residency irregularities in various parts of the Kingdom.

The campaign was launched last year on Nov. 15.

It has been revealed that 692,143 expatriates were in violation of residence permits, 180,070 work laws and 79,342 the system of the border security.

About 19 ministries and government departments including the Ministry of Labor and Social Development and the Directorate General of Passports (Jawazat) are participating in the campaign.

According to the campaign, a total of 13,777 people were nabbed while attempting to sneak into the Kingdom from its southern borders. It said about 58 percent of them were Yemenis, 39 percent Ethiopians and three percent of various other nationalities.

It said 612 people were netted while trying to exit the Kingdom illegally.

The campaign said as many as 1,758 people were accused of providing accommodation and transport to illegal expatriates including 295 Saudis of whom 264 were investigated, punished and released. The remaining Saudis are still under investigations.

A total of 11,855 — 10,170 men and 1,685 women — violating expatriates are presently being held in detention centers.

The campaign said 134,376 violators were referred to their concerned embassies and consulates to issue them with travel documents while 161,545 were completing their travel procedures.

It said as many as 242,041 violating expatriates were deported.