Overview of the Inspection Campaign
The Ministry of Interior conducted inspection campaigns across Saudi Arabia from August 8 to August 14, focusing on compliance with residency, labor, and border security laws.
Breakdown of Recorded Violations
Residency Law Violations
The inspections resulted in the recording of 19,989 violations, with 12,608 related to residency.
Border Security Violations
In addition, 4,519 violations were related to border security.
Labor Law Violations
There were also 2,862 violations of labor laws.
Arrests and Detentions
Illegal Border Crossings
Authorities apprehended 913 individuals attempting to cross the border into the Kingdom illegally, with 32% identified as Yemenis, 65% as Ethiopians, and 3% from other nationalities.
Illegal Exit Attempts
Additionally, 34 individuals were arrested for attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally.
Involvement in Facilitating Violations
Nine people were detained for their involvement in transporting, sheltering, and employing violators.
Ongoing Procedures and Repatriation Efforts
Coordination with Embassies
Currently, 15,803 expatriates, including 14,491 men and 1,312 women, are undergoing procedures for enforcing regulations. Among those detained, 5,028 individuals were instructed to contact their countries' embassies or consulates to obtain proper travel documentation.
Departure Arrangements
A total of 2,955 individuals were directed to make booking arrangements for their departure.
Completed Repatriations
So far, 11,361 expatriates have already been repatriated.
Ministry’s Warning Against Facilitating Violations
Legal Consequences and Penalties
The Ministry of Interior issued a stern warning, stating that anyone who facilitates the illegal entry of individuals into the Kingdom, transports them, shelters them, or provides any form of assistance or service may face up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to SR1 million. Vehicles used for transportation or houses used for shelter may also be confiscated.
Public Cooperation and Reporting
The ministry emphasized that such acts are considered major crimes that warrant arrest and urged the public to report any violations by calling 911 in the Makkah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, or 999 and 996 in the rest of the Kingdom.
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