Saudi security forces arrested 15,231 illegal migrants in joint operations over one week. The operations, from 18 to 24 June, were carried out in coordination between the kingdom’s security forces and relevant government agencies. Saudi Arabia’s interior ministry confirmed the information in a statement on Saturday.
According to the ministry, of those arrested, 7,589 had violated residency law, 4,443 had breached border-security law and 3,199 were detained on charges of violating labour law. Over the same period, 11,297 illegal migrants were sent back to their countries.
In addition, 15,109 people were referred to their countries’ diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, and 3,618 were referred to the relevant authorities to complete travel formalities for returning home. The ministry said 1,763 people were detained during the operations while trying to cross the border into Saudi Arabia illegally — 44 percent of them Yemeni, 55 percent Ethiopian and the remaining 1 percent nationals of other countries.
A further 53 people were arrested while trying to leave Saudi Arabia illegally. According to the Saudi Gazette, authorities detained another 22 people on charges of transporting, sheltering and arranging employment for illegal migrants. Legal action is currently under way against 16,369 expatriates, of whom 14,296 are men and 2,073 women. The Saudi interior ministry warned that anyone who helps a person enter Saudi Arabia illegally, transports or shelters them, or provides any other kind of assistance or service could face up to 15 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to SAR 1 million.
Vehicles used for such activities and houses used as shelters will also be seized. The ministry urged the public to report any illegal migration or law-breaking to the authorities immediately.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report