Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — The Nation Free of Violators campaign has so far apprehended as many as 3,320,518 expatriates for violating residency laws, border security and work regulations, authorities have announced.

The campaign was launched mid-November 2017 with the participation of 19 ministries and government departments including the Ministry of Labor and Social Development and the Directorate General of Passports (Jawazat).

The campaign said some 2,588,737 expatriates were guilty of violating the Kingdom’s residency laws, 511,983 for not adhering to work regulations and 219,798 for infiltration attempts.

It said 55,897 were nabbed while attempting to infiltrate into the Kingdom through its southern borders. They consisted of 48 percent Yemenis, 49 percent Ethiopians and three percent people of various other nationalities.

According to the campaign, 2,458 people were caught while attempting to exit the Kingdom illegally and 3,918 people were accused of providing accommodation and transport to illegal expatriates. They included 1,339 Saudis of whom 1,301 were investigated, punished and released while 38 others were still being probed.

The campaign said 16,435 expatriates were currently kept in detention centers consisting of 13,841 men and 2,594 women.

It said 434,594 violating expatriates were referred to their concerned embassies and consulates to issue them with travel documents while 552,362 were completing their flight bookings.