Saudis arrest man for smuggling illegal migrant inside truck
If convicted, suspect could face two years in jail, SR100,000 fine
A Kenyan resident has been arrested for allegedly assisting the unlawful immigration of a compatriot citizen, police said.
Colonel Muteb Al Khamis, spokesperson for the Northern Border Police, said road security patrols in Rafha Governorate arrested a Kenyan truck driver, in his 40s, and a woman in her 30s found hiding in the truck, on the Rafha-Hafr Al Batin road.
The suspects were taken into custody pending moving to the Public Prosecution for questioning and trial, police said.
Saudi authorities have urged citizens and expatriates to report illegal migrants and have warned them of tough penalties if they are found to be assisting them.
Transporting, employing, smuggling or covering up infiltrators is an offence punishable by two years in prison and a fine of SR100,000.
The penalty also includes deportation and naming of the violator if he is an expatriate. Vehicles used in transporting illegals are confiscated after a court ruling.
Anyone seeing a crowd of violators of residence, labour and border systems should immediately inform security personnel, who will confront the violators, officials warned.