1,450 illegals arrested while crossing border to Saudi Arabia in a week

According to the Ministry of Interior in Saudi Arabia, 1,450 illegal residents were arrested while attempting to cross the border into the Kingdom within a week, from August 20 to August 26. These arrests were made in joint inspections conducted alongside relevant government agencies. Among the 1,450 individuals arrested, 41 percent were Yemeni nationals, 58 percent were Ethiopian nationals, and 1 percent belonged to other nationalities. Additionally, 44 people were apprehended for attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally.

The arrests came as part of a week-long crackdown, with 14,434 illegal residents being seized during the inspection period. Of these, 6,976 violated the Residency Law, 4,110 violated the Border Security Law, and 3,348 violated the Labor Law. After the arrests, 14,905 illegal residents were deported, and 18,914 violators were referred to their respective diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents. Furthermore, 2,867 violators were referred to complete their travel reservations.

In a separate effort to combat illegal activities within the country, 27 people were arrested for providing transportation, shelter, and employment to violators. The Ministry of Interior has warned that anyone aiding illegal entry, transporting, providing shelter, or offering other assistance to individuals will face up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to SR1 million.

Vehicles used for transportation or houses used for sheltering violators will also be confiscated. The ministry encourages the public to report any violations by contacting the numbers 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or the numbers 999 and 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.