Riyadh: The Ministry of Interior conducted inspection campaigns in the Kingdom between March 27 to April 02 to ensure compliance with residency, labor and border security laws.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the inspections yielded the following results: Across the Kingdom, 18,407 violations were recorded, including 12,995 of residency, 3,512 of border security, and 1,900 of labor laws. Attempting to cross the border into the Kingdom illegally were 1,260 individuals, of whom 28% were Yemenis, 66% Ethiopians, and 06% of other nationalities. Additionally, 67 people were arrested for attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally.

The report also highlighted that twenty-one people involved in transporting, sheltering, and employing violators were arrested. A total of 34,201 expatriates, comprising 32,453 men and 1,748 women, are currently undergoing procedures for enforcing regulations. Among them, 27,288 were detained for violating laws and instructed to contact their countries’ embassies or consulates to obtain proper travel documentation; 1,762 were told to make booking arrangements for their departure, and 7,523 were repatriated.

The Ministry of Interior has issued a stern warning that any person facilitating the illegal entry of individuals into the Kingdom, providing them with shelter or any other assistance, may face up to 15 years in prison and fines up to SAR1 million. It further emphasized that vehicles used for transport or houses used for shelter may be confiscated. The ministry stressed that such acts are major crimes warranting arrest and urged people to report any violations by calling designated hotlines in different regions of the Kingdom.