Illegal expatriates waiting in long queues to complete final exit procedures at the border checkpoint of Al-Tuwal in Jazan on Wednesday. More than 11,000 illegals were deported from Al-Tuwal during the first two days after the end of the amnesty period. — Okaz photo by Mansour Hadi Saudi Gazette report
JEDDAH – As the inspection squads have tightened the noose on illegals with massive raids being held across the Kingdom, the commercial and business sectors are paying a heavy price. Hundreds of shops and eateries remained closed for the third day on Wednesday. The number of illegals arrested in the first two days of the campaign exceeded 20,000, with the largest figures coming from the southern border province of Jazan and the western governorate of Jeddah. More than 11,000 were arrested in Jazan while Jeddah came second with the arrest of 7,790 labor and residency violators. About 818 illegals were apprehended in Riyadh. There were unruly scenes at the border checkpoint of Al-Tuwal in Jazan when a large number of arrested illegals tried to escape from detention. Some of them tried to climb the walls of the checkpoint compound where they were detained. Additional reinforcement helped the security authorities to bring the situation under control and managed to re-arrest those who had escaped.
Brig. Gen. Abdullah Mahfouz, spokesman of the Border Guards in Jazan region, said that more than 8,000 foreigners, mainly Yemenis and some African nationals, were among those who were apprehended. Most of them were deported after completing the finger-printing procedures. It was found that a number of these illegals were in the wanted list of security authorities for various crimes and they were transferred to the concerned authorities for interrogation prior to taking penal action, he said. Col. Badar Al-Saud, director of media and public relations at the police department in the Makkah region, told Al-Watan Arabic daily that a total of 7,790 illegals have been nabbed in various regions of the Jeddah governorate. A total of 3,918 were arrested on the first day of the security campaign while another 3,877 were arrested on the second day. He said the detention centers have been equipped with all basic facilities and the inmates are being supplied with food and medical care. Meanwhile, people who provide transportation facilities for the illegals from neighboring countries who want to dodge finger-printing have become active. They found it a thriving business to transport illegals through the desert roads and rugged terrain. They charge an average of SR2,700 per individual to take them from Makkah to the southern Yemeni border. One Saudi, who is engaged in this lucrative business, said that he managed to earn about SR10,000 in a day. Several illegals pointed out that the charge for illegal transportation to Yemen earlier was around SR700. Air India help desk In order to facilitate the Nitaqat affected persons from India, Air India has set up special counter in the City Offices at Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam to assist passengers in their travel plan. Contact details in Jeddah: Tel : 012-2632994, Email : [email protected], in Riyadh: Tel : 011-4772228 Ext. 295/296, Email: [email protected], in Dammam: Tel : 013-8822478 Email : [email protected]
