RIYADH — Nearly 4.2 million violators of the residency, work and border security regulations have been arrested in Saudi Arabia, according to an official report. During the crackdown under "Nation-Free of Violators" campaign, launched in cooperation with 19 ministries and government departments, including the ministry of labor and social development (MLSD) and the Directorate General of Passports (Jawazat) until Thursday, a total of 4,217,722 violators were apprehended, of whom 1,047,336 were deported to their respective home countries. Of these, 3,297,278 were violators of the Iqama (residency) regulations, 648,458 were violators of the labor law, while 271,986 were violators of the border system, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said on Friday. Since the campaign began in November 2017, a total of 3,267,143 people have been held for violating residency regulations, 643,056 for labor violations and 269,681 for border violations. It said that as many as 74,835 people were caught while attempting to infiltrate into the Kingdom through its southern borders, comprising 43 percent Yemenis, 54 percent Ethiopians and three percent people of various other nationalities. According to the campaign, 2,924 people were caught while trying to exit the Kingdom illegally through its various border outlets. The campaign said a total of 4,669 people were accused of providing illegal expatriates with accommodation and transport including 1,702 Saudis of whom 1,662 were interrogated, punished and released and 40 are still being probed. It said 14,176 violating expatriates were being kept in detention centers. Of these, 12,661 were men and 1,515 were women. On the spot penalties were meted out against 582,142 violators. The campaign said 534,399 violators were referred to their respective embassies and consulates to issue them travel documents, while 709,576 were still completing their travel arrangements. Over 1,059,354 violators were deported, the report said.
