Over 21,000 Residency, Labor, Border Violations Recorded in One Week

In inspection campaigns across the Kingdom between August 7 and 13 to ensure compliance with residency, labor, and border security laws, the Ministry of Interior recorded 21,997 violations, including 13,434 related to residency, 4,697 to border security, and 3,866 to labor laws.
 Border authorities apprehended 1,787 individuals attempting to cross into the Kingdom illegally, including 35% Yemenis, 64% Ethiopians, and 1% from other nationalities. They also arrested 27 people for attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally.
 Some 18 people involved in transporting, sheltering, and employing violators were arrested.
 A total of 25,439 expatriates, including 22,837 men and 2,602 women, are currently undergoing procedures to enforce regulations.
 Meanwhile, 18,149 individuals were detained for violating the regulations and were instructed to contact their countries’ embassies or consulates to obtain proper travel documents. In addition, 2,973 were advised to make travel arrangements, and 12,861 were repatriated.
 The Ministry of Interior has warned that anyone who facilitates the illegal entry of individuals into the Kingdom, transports them within its territory, or provides them with shelter, assistance, or any other service may face penalties of up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to SAR1 million. Vehicles serving as transport and properties serving as shelter may also be confiscated.
 The ministry emphasized that such acts constitute major crimes that warrant arrest and urged the public to report any violations by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, or 999 and 996 in other parts of the Kingdom.