Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — Saudi security forces have arrested a total of 19,431 illegal residents during inspection raids carried out in all regions of Saudi Arabia during the third week of February.

The arrested 19,431 illegal residents, included 11,897violators of the Residency Law, 4,254violators of the Border Security Law, and 3,280 violators of the Labor Law. The arrests were made during the joint field security campaigns carried out by security forces and the concerned government agencies during the period from Feb. 15 to Feb. 21, 2024.

The total number of people who were arrested while trying to cross the border into Saudi Arabia reached 971 people, of whom 39 percent were Yemeni nationals, 57 percent Ethiopian nationals, and four percent belonged to other nationalities.

During the period, another 36 people were arrested while attempting to cross the border to outside Saudi Arabia in an illegal way. Another 15 people were also arrested and the charges against them were transporting, harboring, and employing violators of residency, work, and border security regulations and giving shelter to illegal residents.

The total number of people who are currently under various phases of legal procedures for violations reached 58,365 expatriates, including 53,636 men and 4,729 women. A total of 50,839 violators were referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents while 1,624 violators were referred to complete their travel reservations, in addition to deportation of 9,566 violators.

The Ministry of Interior confirmed that anyone who facilitates the entry of violators of the Border Security Law into Saudi Arabia, as well as providing them transportation, shelter, or any assistance or service in any way, will be slapped with penalties of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to SR1 million, and confiscation of the means of transportation and housing used for accommodation, in addition to publicizing their names in the local media at their own expense.

The Ministry of Interior urged people to report any cases of violation by calling the number 911 in the regions of Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province and the numbers 999 and 996 in the rest of the Saudi regions.