Muscat: The crackdown on illegal immigrants in Oman continues with arrest of 174 illegal immigrants from a farm in Azaiba area of Muscat, according to a press release from Royal Oman Police (ROP) Monday.
"Except one Pakistani national, rest of them were all Bangladeshi nationals," a spokesperson for the ROP told Gulf News.
He added that all of them housed in one farm houses on the outskirts of Muscat.
He revealed that all 174 were taken into custody and action would be taken against the owner of the farm house for accommodating illegal residents.
"Some of them have violated the labour laws while some have entered the country illegally," he said, adding that the police acted on a tip off.
The assistance of Manpower Ministry officials was sought by police in carrying out the raid.
"The crackdown will continue to root out illegal residents from country as they pose a threat to security as well breed crime in the country," he further said.
According to police those giving work or even refuge to illegal residence were equally guilty and face legal action.
"We appeal to all citizens and residents to report people working or staying in Oman without valid papers as they can be nuisance to the society," the police spokesperson said.
Last year, Manpower Ministry had allowed illegal residents to leave the country without paying fines or legalised their status.
A total of 24,311 illegal workers of Asian origin left the country in 2010 but according to an estimate more than double that number are still working in the country illegally.
'Free visa'
Oman also a large number of Asian workers on what is colloquially termed as ‘Azad Visa' (Free visa) wherein the workers are given freedom to take up freelance work although it is illegal.
Under the provision of laws now both employees and employers are liable for legal action if an expatriate is caught working for an employer other than the sponsor of his employment visa.
Some analyst and activist also believe that the large number of illegal employees in the country were a contributing factor in nationals not getting employment.
Therefore, the government has intensified crackdown on illegal residents, who the police allege also indulge in criminal activities in the country.
