Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The number of residency and labor law violators arrested in the ongoing crackdown as part of the Kingdom-wide campaign Nation Free of Illegal Expats has crossed 1.5 million, campaign officials have announced.

They said a total of 367,352 violators were deported to their respective home countries since the launch of the campaign on Nov. 15, 2017.

As many as 19 ministries and government departments including the Ministry of Labor and Social Development and the directorate general of passports are participating in the campaign.

According to data released by the campaign, 23,524 people were arrested while trying to sneak into the Kingdom across its southern borders. Yemenis constituted about 54 percent of the infiltrators and Ethiopians 43 percent.

Officials said 973 foreigners were apprehended while attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally.

They said a total of 2,297 people were charged with sheltering and transporting illegal residents. They included 463 Saudis, of whom 449 were questioned and released after paying penalties while 14 Saudis are still under investigation.

The officials said 12,182 violators, consisting of 10,147 men and 2,035 women, are being held in various detention centers awaiting deportation.

A total of 201,577 detainees were referred to concerned embassies and consulates to issue them with travel documents while 250,396 others were finalizing their flight bookings for their final departure from the country.