RIYADH — A total of 5,651,619 violators of residency laws, labor regulations and border security laws have been arrested during the period from Nov. 11 2017 to June 24, 2021. The joint field campaigns carried out by various security authorities across the Kingdom have resulted in the arrest of illegals, according to a report of the Ministry of Interior, carried by the Saudi Press Agency on Saturday. The arrested persons include 4,323,083 violators of the residency laws while 803,186 were arrested for the violation of labor laws. Violators of the border security laws reached 525,350. The total number of those who were arrested while trying to cross the border into the Kingdom was 116,930, of whom 43 percent were Yemeni nationals, 54 percent were Ethiopians, and three percent were of other nationalities. The security authorities also apprehended 9,550 persons for trying to sneak across the border out of the Kingdom. A total of 8,241 people were arrested for transporting and harboring violators of the residency, work and border security regulations and giving them shelter. The total number of citizens who were arrested for their involvement in transporting or giving shelter to expatriates in violation of the regulations reached 2,769. Penalties were imposed on 715,216 violators while 913,306 violators have been referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, and 1,559,919 violators were deported. The ministry emphasized that anyone who facilitates the entry of the infiltrator into the Kingdom or giving him transportation or shelter or any assistance or service shall be punished with penalties of up to 15 years in prison, and a maximum fine of SR1million in addition to the confiscation of the means of transportation and accommodation.
