Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — A total of 20,668 illegal residents have been arrested during security operations held last week. The arrests were made during the joint inspections, carried out by the security forces in collaboration with the relevant government agencies, during the period between April 10 and April 16, the Ministry of Interior announced on Saturday.

Those who were arrested included 12,372 violators of the Residency Law, 4,750 violators of the Border Security Law, and 3,566 violators of the Labor Law. The total number of people who were arrested while trying to cross the border into the Kingdom accounted for 1,264, of whom 36 percent were Yemeni nationals, 61 percent Ethiopian nationals, and three percent belonged to other nationalities. Some 93 people were arrested while attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally.

A total of 32,417 illegal residents, including 30,038 men and 2,379 women, are currently undergoing various phases of legal procedures as part of punitive measures against them. A total of 24,811 violators were referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents while 2,936 violators were referred to complete their travel reservations and 12,235 violators were deported. Twenty-seven people involved in giving transportation, shelter, and employment for violators were also arrested.

The Ministry of Interior has warned that any person, who facilitates the illegal entry of individuals into the Kingdom, transports them on its territory, provides them with shelter or any other assistance or service may be penalized with up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to SR1 million, and that the vehicles used for transportation or houses used for giving shelter will be confiscated.

The ministry urged the public 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 Kingdom’s regions.