Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Joint field campaigns to track and arrest violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations across all regions of Saudi Arabia resulted in the detention of 22,072 offenders between July 31 and Aug. 6, according to the Ministry of Interior.

Of those apprehended, 13,833 were in violation of residency laws, 4,624 breached border security regulations, and 3,615 violated labor laws.

Authorities also intercepted 1,640 individuals attempting to cross into the Kingdom illegally — 35% from Yemen, 64% from Ethiopia, and 1% from other nationalities — and detained 48 people for trying to leave Saudi Arabia unlawfully.

The operations further led to the arrest of 37 people accused of transporting, sheltering, employing, or covering up for violators. Currently, 23,630 violators — including 20,601 men and 3,029 women — are undergoing legal procedures.

This includes 16,162 individuals referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, 3,136 awaiting travel bookings, and 11,058 already deported.

The ministry reiterated that anyone who facilitates the illegal entry of border violators, transports them, shelters them, or provides any assistance faces penalties of up to 15 years in prison, fines of up to SR 1 million, confiscation of transport and housing used in the offense, and public naming.

The crime is classified as a major offense warranting detention and is considered dishonorable. The public is urged to report violations by calling 911 in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 and 996 in other regions.