More than 22,000 law violators arrested in Saudi Arabia in one week

Dubai:  More than 22,000 people were arrested in Saudi Arabia last week in a sweeping nationwide campaign against residency and labour law violations, the Ministry of Interior said on Saturday.

The joint inspections, carried out by security forces in coordination with government agencies between August 14 and August 20, led to the detention of 22,222 individuals. 

 Among them were 13,551 violators of the Residency Law, 4,665 violators of the Border Security Law, and 4,006 labour law offenders, officials said.

Nearly 20,000 of those arrested were referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, while another 1,664 were preparing travel arrangements. By the end of the week, 12,920 people had been deported.

The ministry added that 1,786 people were caught attempting to cross the border into the Kingdom illegally, most of them Yemeni or Ethiopian nationals. Another 33 were apprehended while trying to leave the country unlawfully.

Authorities also detained 18 individuals accused of providing transportation, shelter, or employment to violators. In total, 25,921 expatriates, 23,419 men and 2,502 women, are currently undergoing legal procedures.

The Interior Ministry warned that anyone found facilitating illegal entry, shelter, or employment faces penalties of up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to 1 million riyals. Vehicles and properties used in the violations will be seized, it said.

 The ministry urged the public to report suspected violators by calling 911 in Mecca, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, and 999 or 996 elsewhere in the Kingdom.