Over 22,000 Residency, Labor, Border Violations Recorded in One Week

In inspection campaigns across the Kingdom between July 31 and August 6 to ensure compliance with residency, labor, and border security laws, the Ministry of Interior recorded 22,072 violations, including 13,833 related to residency, 4,624 to border security, and 3,615 to labor laws.
 Border authorities apprehended 1,640 individuals attempting to cross into the Kingdom illegally, including 35% Yemenis, 64% Ethiopians, and 1% from other nationalities. They also arrested 48 people for attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally.
 Some 37 people involved in transporting, sheltering, and employing violators were arrested.
 A total of 23,630 expatriates, including 20,601 men and 3,029 women, are currently undergoing procedures to enforce regulations.
 Meanwhile, 16,162 individuals were detained for violating the regulations and were instructed to contact their countries’ embassies or consulates to obtain proper travel documents. In addition, 3,136 were advised to make travel arrangements and 11,058 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.