Saudi Arabia detained 14,796 people over a week on charges of violating residency, labour and border laws. During the same period, 12,057 expatriates were deported. The country’s interior ministry said Sunday that these measures were taken during joint security operations carried out nationwide from September 3 to 9.
The operations, coordinated across various government agencies, detained 7,504 people on charges of violating residency laws. Another 3,783 were detained for violating border security laws, and 3,509 for violating labour laws.
Additionally, 1,273 people were detained while attempting to enter Saudi Arabia illegally. Of them, 55 percent were Ethiopian nationals, 44 percent Yemeni, and 1 percent from other countries. During the same period, a further 25 people were detained while attempting to leave Saudi Arabia illegally.
The interior ministry said 12,057 people were deported from Saudi Arabia during that one week of operations. In addition, 18,677 people were referred to their respective countries’ diplomatic missions to obtain necessary travel documents. A further 3,487 were referred to relevant authorities to complete travel formalities.
Another 21 people were detained on charges of transporting, sheltering or employing law violators.
According to ministry data, 30,257 expatriates are currently going through various proceedings in Saudi Arabia over immigration and labour law violations. Of them, 28,529 are men and 1,728 are women.
The Saudi interior ministry warned that helping someone enter the country illegally, transporting or sheltering them, or providing any other form of assistance, could result in up to 15 years in prison, along with a fine of up to 1 million Saudi riyals. Vehicles used in such activities and property used to shelter law violators could also be confiscated.
The interior ministry has asked residents of Mecca, Riyadh and the Eastern Province to call 911 to report violations. Residents in other parts of the country have been asked to contact 999 and 996.