The Ministry of Interior has announced that 22,021 illegal residents were arrested during inspection raids across Saudi Arabia last week. These arrests were made through joint field security campaigns carried out by security forces and government agencies between Aug. 29 and Sept. 4.

Violations and Arrests

The arrested individuals include:

• 14,508 violators of the Residency Law.
• 4,511 violators of the Border Security Law.
• 3,002 violators of the Labor Law.

Additionally, 998 individuals were apprehended while attempting to cross the border into Saudi Arabia. Of these, 39 percent were Yemeni nationals, 60 percent Ethiopian nationals, and 1 percent from other nationalities. Meanwhile, 41 individuals were arrested while trying to leave the Kingdom illegally.

Crackdown on Facilitators

Authorities also arrested 11 people involved in transporting, sheltering, and employing violators. A total of 15,108 expatriates (13,996 men and 1,112 women) are currently undergoing legal procedures as part of punitive measures.

Legal Actions and Deportations

The ministry revealed that 5,917 violators were referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, while 2,249 violators were in the process of completing their travel arrangements. 11,242 violators have already been deported.

Penalties for Assisting Violators

The Ministry of Interior has warned that any person found guilty of facilitating the illegal entry, transportation, or sheltering of individuals in the Kingdom faces severe penalties, including:

• Up to 15 years in prison.
• A fine of up to SR1 million.
• Confiscation of the vehicle used for transportation and the property used for sheltering.

Reporting Violations

The ministry urged the public to report violations by contacting:

• 911 in the regions of Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province.
• 999 and 996 in the rest of the Kingdom’s regions.

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