Muscat: The crackdown on illegal residents in Oman continued with the fresh arrest of 242 people and the deportation of another 237, according to a Royal Oman Police (ROP) press release on Thursday.
“The ROP officers, with the help of the military and other security agencies, arrested 223 illegals of different nationalities from various provinces of the country,” a spokesman for the ROP’s public relations department said, adding the ROP’s coastguard teams also held 19 Asians trying to infiltrate by sea in Birka town, about 100km north of Muscat.
He added 237 other illegal residents were also deported after legal action was taken, including coordination with the respective embassies in Oman.
The 19 infiltrators caught along the coast of Birka town were also charged with drug smuggling.
“The arrested infiltrators were carrying a bag that contained 826 capsules of heroin,” he said, adding the gang had suspected links with an international gang of narcotics smugglers.
The ROP also arrested six Asians in Birka town for smuggling narcotics and entering the country illegally. Meanwhile, the ROP arrested an Asian from Saham, about 211km north of Muscat, for bootlegging.
“Acting on a tip-off officers from the Directorate-General of Inquiries and Criminal Investigations in North Batinah raided the locality and arrested the accused red-handed,” the spokesman said, adding the team also seized a large cache of liquor in his possession.
The accused was later referred to the Public Prosecution for further investigation and trial.
Police in north Batinah foiled an attempt to steal a fishing boat and smuggle it to Iran.
“We have arrested nine Asians for the crime,” the ROP spokesman said.
In another incident, coastguard officials rescued a tourist boat which ran out of fuel while at sea. All the people on board were unharmed.
