More than 13,000 illegal immigrants arrested in Saudi Arabia in one week

Law enforcement agencies of Saudi Arabia have intensified the campaign against foreign citizens violating residential, labour and border laws of the country. 13,628 persons have been arrested in a special campaign of one week. The process of sending more than 12,000 of the foreigners among them back to their respective countries is ongoing.

According to information of the Saudi Ministry of Interior, these persons were arrested in the campaign conducted across the country from September 17 to 23. Among the arrested persons 6,593 were arrested on allegation of violating residential law, 3,531 on allegation of violating border security law and 3,504 on allegation of violating labour law.

In the campaign 1,199 persons were arrested while entering Saudi Arabia by crossing the border illegally. A large portion of them are citizens of Ethiopia and Yemen. In addition, another 27 persons have been arrested while trying to leave Saudi Arabia illegally.

Saudi authorities have informed that the process of quickly sending the arrested persons back to their respective countries is also ongoing. In the meantime more than 18,000 persons have been sent to the diplomatic missions of the concerned countries for collecting necessary travel pass and other documents.

Meanwhile more than 31,000 foreign citizens are currently under legal process. 22 local citizens have also been arrested on allegation of giving shelter, transport or assisting illegal immigrants in any other way.

The Saudi Ministry of Interior has given warning of taking strict measures against those assisting in preventing illegal immigration. Providing shelter to anyone without permission of the authority, transporting or assisting in hiding can result in a maximum of 15 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to 1 million Saudi riyals. There is also provision of confiscating the vehicles and property used in such crimes.

Saudi authorities have called on citizens and residents to provide information about those entering or staying illegally. At the same time the Ministry of Interior of the country has also informed that regular campaigns against foreigners staying in the country without valid documents will continue.