The flow of unidentified infiltrators across the Saudi-Yemeni border into the Jizan region has been going on for years affecting both the economic life and security of the area. However, the recent infiltration of the border area has resulted in coordination between citizens and security forces, underlining Saudi citizens vigilant concern for the safety and security of every inch of their country. The nation's armed forces in the region have succeeded in repulsing infiltrators in Bani Malik, Balghazi, Faifa, Al-Daghareer, Al-Aridha and other governorates in the Saudi-Yemeni border region. A security source confirmed that all reports from citizens on infiltrators are taken seriously and are dealt with and verified immediately. Continuous watch Teams of sentries from local villages, in coordination with security authorities, keep a continuous watch in order to discover anyone attempting to enter the country illegally. Infiltrators may be children or men who have disguised themselves in women's clothes in order to cross into Saudi territory. Mahdi Al-Hakami, sheikh of Bani Jarrah and Al-Hakkamiah tribes of Al-Qafl rural center in Jizan, said that groups of local villagers have been formed to watch for the entry of infiltrators, and if discovered, to detain them and hand them over to security authorities. Al-Hakami said that they have succeeded in apprehending a number of unidentified infiltrators including Yemenis and Africans. He stressed the importance of maintaining a continuous watch and cooperating with security authorities. Citizens in villages near the border divide themselves into teams who stay up at night to watch for infiltrators. They take turns acting as sentries throughout the night in coordination with security authorities responsible for monitoring the situation and maintaining security along the border. Night pursuits Ali Al-Hakami, a resident of Umm Al-Quroosh village near the border, said that while monitoring the area, villagers discovered infiltrators who had hidden in a nearby valley and pursued them for nearly an hour. “Several days ago, we noticed some infiltrators who had hidden in a valley. When we drew near to them, they ran away and hid in the mountain passes. After chasing them for nearly an hour, we apprehended them and handed them over to security men,” he said. Al-Hakami said that the number of infiltrators has decreased, which he attributed to the presence of security personnel and the cooperation of citizens, “who are vigilant and concerned about their country.” Security registers for 2009 show that 477,261 infiltrators were arrested in different areas near the border. The majority were Yemeni nationals who entered the country illegally. In Abu Areesh Governorate, security authorities arrested a number of infiltrators who were working illegally. The shop owners who employed them were fined and penalized. The arrests were the result of an inspection tour ordered by Muhammad Bin Labadah, Governor of Abu Areesh, based on the directives of Prince Muhammad Bin Nasser Bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of the Jizan Region. Prince Muhammad directed that committees comprising representatives of the police, Civil Defense, Passports Department and the municipality monitor the industrial estate and commercial areas to search for and arrest unidentified persons. These inspection tours resulted in the closure of 36 different shops and automobile workshops. Also 14 cafeterias were closed in the industrial area as they provided food to unidentified individuals. Some machines owned by illegal workers were confiscated and 13 workshops providing them with shelter were closed.
