Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — A total of 17,153 illegal residents were arrested in Saudi Arabia during the last week. The arrests were made during the joint inspections, carried out by the security forces in collaboration with the relevant government agencies, during the period between April 24 and April 30, the Ministry of Interior revealed on Saturday.

Those who were arrested included 10,305 violators of the Residency Law, 3,644 violators of the Border Security Law, and 3,204 violators of the Labor Law. The total number of people who were arrested while trying to cross the border into the Kingdom accounted for 1,109, of whom 35 percent were Yemeni nationals, 62 percent Ethiopian nationals, and three percent belonged to other nationalities. Some 13 people, involved in giving transportation, shelter, and employment for violators, were also arrested.

A total of 28,706 illegal residents, including 27,022 men and 1,684 women, are currently undergoing various phases of legal procedures as part of punitive measures against them. The ministry said that a total of 15,402 violators were deported while 20,537 violators were referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents and 2,484 violators were referred to complete their travel reservations.

The Ministry of Interior has warned that any person, who facilitates the illegal entry of individuals into the Kingdom, transports them on its territory, provides them with shelter or any other assistance or service may be penalized with up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to SR1 million, and that the vehicles used for transportation or houses used for giving shelter will be confiscated.

The ministry urged the public to report any cases of violation by calling the number 911 in the regions of Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province and the numbers 999 and 996 in the rest of the Kingdom’s regions.