[Saudi Arabia] 14,470 arrests in one week for labour, residency and border law violations

In Saudi Arabia around 14,470 people have been arrested over a one week period for violations of residency and labour laws and border security regulations in various regions of the Kingdom, Saudi Gazette reports.

The arrests were made as part of joint field campaigns carried out by various units of security forces and the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) during the February 3 to 9 period.

Those arrested reportedly included 7,708 violators of the residency laws, about 4,971 violators of the border security regulations and more than 1,791 people who had violated the labour law.

A total of 168 people were arrested while trying to cross the border into the Kingdom, of whom 31 per cent were Yemeni nationals, 65 per cent were Ethiopians and 4 per cent belonged to other nationalities. 168 people were arrested for trying to flee the Kingdom by crossing borders. The security forces also arrested 13 people who were involved in transporting violators and giving them shelter.

The total number of people who are currently subject to punitive measures totalled more than 99,499 including above 88,177 men and 11,322 women. The cases of 87,424 alleged violators were referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents for their deportation.

The Ministry of Interior has issued a warning that anyone who is caught facilitating anyone to enter the Kingdom in violation of the border security regulations, or provides transportation or shelter or any assistance or service in any way, shall be awarded a maximum jail term of 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million, and the confiscation of the means of transportation, and the residence used for shelter, in addition to the publication of their names in local media.

In Saudi Arabia around 14,470 people have been arrested over a one week period for violations of residency and labour laws and border security regulations in various regions of the Kingdom, Saudi Gazette reports.

The arrests were made as part of joint field campaigns carried out by various units of security forces and the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) during the February 3 to 9 period.

Those arrested reportedly included 7,708 violators of the residency laws, about 4,971 violators of the border security regulations and more than 1,791 people who had violated the labour law.

A total of 168 people were arrested while trying to cross the border into the Kingdom, of whom 31 per cent were Yemeni nationals, 65 per cent were Ethiopians and 4 per cent belonged to other nationalities. 168 people were arrested for trying to flee the Kingdom by crossing borders. The security forces also arrested 13 people who were involved in transporting violators and giving them shelter.

The total number of people who are currently subject to punitive measures totalled more than 99,499 including above 88,177 men and 11,322 women. The cases of 87,424 alleged violators were referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents for their deportation.

The Ministry of Interior has issued a warning that anyone who is caught facilitating anyone to enter the Kingdom in violation of the border security regulations, or provides transportation or shelter or any assistance or service in any way, shall be awarded a maximum jail term of 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million, and the confiscation of the means of transportation, and the residence used for shelter, in addition to the publication of their names in local media.