Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s joint field security campaigns to track and apprehend violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations have resulted in the arrest of 22,147 offenders across all regions of the Kingdom between July 24 and July 30, the Ministry of Interior announced.

Of those arrested, 13,835 violated residency regulations, 4,772 breached border security laws, and 3,540 violated labor laws.

Authorities also detained 1,816 individuals attempting to illegally cross into Saudi Arabia — 36% Yemeni nationals, 62% Ethiopian nationals, and 2% of other nationalities — as well as 34 people attempting to leave the Kingdom unlawfully.

The crackdown further led to the arrest of 20 individuals accused of transporting, sheltering, or employing violators and covering up their activities.

Currently, 21,143 offenders — including 18,326 men and 2,817 women — are undergoing procedures to address their violations.

Authorities referred 13,569 violators to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, 3,566 to complete travel bookings, and deported 10,820 individuals.

The Ministry of Interior reiterated that facilitating the entry, transport, or sheltering of border security violators is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, fines of up to 1 million Saudi riyals ($266,000), confiscation of vehicles and housing used in the offense, and public naming.

The crime is classified as a major offense warranting detention and is considered dishonorable.

The ministry urged the public to report violations by calling 911 in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 and 996 in other regions.