The Saudi Ministry of Interior has taken swift action against violations of residency, work, and border security regulations, resulting in the arrest of 15,201 individuals within just one week, from September 28 to October 4, 2023.

The breakdown of these arrests is as follows:

Residency Violations: 9,233 individuals were apprehended for violating residency rules.
Border Security Violations: 4,271 individuals were arrested for border security breaches.
Labour Law Violations: 1,697 individuals were caught violating labor laws.

In addition to these arrests, 527 individuals were intercepted while attempting to irregularly enter the Kingdom. Among them, 55% were Yemeni nationals, 43% Ethiopians, and 2% from other nationalities. Furthermore, 66 individuals were arrested for attempting to leave the Kingdom irregularly.

Fourteen individuals were also taken into custody for their involvement in transporting, sheltering, and employing those who violated the regulations.

Currently, there are 44,462 detainees undergoing legal procedures for their violations, comprising 36,713 men and 7,749 women.

To address these violations, 39,218 violators have been referred to their respective diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, while 1,748 are in the process of completing travel reservations. Additionally, 8,058 individuals have been deported.

The penalties for those aiding violators are severe and may include up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to one million riyals, and the confiscation of vehicles and housing used in these activities.

The Ministry underscores the seriousness of aiding violators and encourages the public to report violations through emergency contact numbers: (911) in Mecca, Riyadh, and the Eastern regions, and (999) and (996) in the rest of the Kingdom’s regions.