Saudi Arabia arrests over 15,800 residency, labor, and border law violators in one week

RIYADH — Saudi authorities arrested 15,836 violators of residency, labor, and border security laws during nationwide joint inspection campaigns conducted over the past week. The Ministry of Interior said the campaigns, carried out between 24 Muharram and 1 Safar 1448 AH, resulted in the arrest of 7,892 violators of the Residency Law, 4,617 violators of the Border Security Law, and 3,327 violators of the Labor Law. Authorities also arrested 1,631 people attempting to enter the Kingdom illegally, of whom 65 percent were Ethiopian nationals, 33 percent were Yemeni nationals, and 2 percent were of other nationalities. Another 42 people were arrested while attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally, while 21 individuals were apprehended for transporting, sheltering, employing, or concealing violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations. The ministry said 30,139 violators—including 28,087 men and 2,052 women—are currently undergoing legal procedures. It added that 17,273 violators have been referred to obtain travel documents, 6,160 to complete travel reservations, and 12,211 have been deported. The Ministry of Interior warned that anyone who facilitates the illegal entry, transportation, sheltering, or employment of border security violators faces penalties of up to 15 years' imprisonment, fines of up to SR1 million, and the confiscation of any vehicles or property used in the offense. The ministry urged the public to report any violations by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 and 996 in the rest of the Kingdom, stressing that all reports are handled with complete confidentiality and that informants bear no legal responsibility.