850 infiltrators arrested in campaign

More than 800 people trying to enter the country illegally were rounded up by law enforcement agencies last month.

According to the Ministry of Interior, the 850 infiltrators were arrested with the cooperation of residents through tip-offs.

They were arrested in operations carried out from June 1 to 30 across the country.

A statement from the Ministry said immigration, coastguards and border forces of the UAE Armed Forces apprehended the culprits as they tried to enter the country via land and sea. Some of them were arrested in their hiding places after entering the country and during inspections on highways.

The statement added that support from law abiding residents had contributed to the arrest of these infiltrators.

The ministry also asked residents to cooperate with the government to help stem the flow of illegal immigrants and said that those found sheltering them would be treated as criminals and punished according to the law.

The local authorities have also sought the help of residents in tipping off the local authorities if they encounter illegal immigrants or infiltrators anywhere in the country.

The interior ministry recently deployed additional security forces on the country's borders to prevent residents from neighbouring countries illegally entering.

The border between Al Ain and Buraimi in Oman has already been fortified with the installation of fences, and security forces check the documents of non-GCC residents travelling between the two neighbouring cities.

In May more than 500 infiltrators were arrested in the country. Similarly in April, 686 were arrested. Last month's figures show a drastic increase in the number of illegal immigrants infiltrating the country.

Efforts are also being exerted at the regional level to contain the flow of illegal immigrants.

Recently Oman and Pakistan joined forces to control the problem by increasing the number of coastguards patrolling the Arabian Sea.

According to reports the majority of illegal immigrants enter Oman from Pakistan and Iran. The majority of infiltrators are Afghans, who pay large amounts of money to smugglers in Iran and Pakistan to help them get to the UAE and other GCC countries in search of jobs.

The two countries have also increased night sea patrols to prevent smugglers from taking people to Gulf countries under cover of darkness. Most of these infiltrators cross into Iran from Pakistan and then head for the Gulf by boat.

Drive rids Dubai of illegal workers

Nine fish cleaners and butchers from the Deira market in Dubai are among those being deported for working without authorisation, municipal officials said.

In total 769 people were caught in a campaign to rid the city of street vendors, beggars, car washers and other people working unofficially.

Obeid Al Shamsi, the Municipality's assistant director-general, said inspectors carried out the checks last month.

More than 400 street vendors, 120 beggars and 200 car washers were also caught. They will be handed over to Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department for deportation.