RIYADH: More than 14,000 violators of residency, work and border security systems have been arrested in the Kingdom in one week, according to an official report.
In the campaigns that took place in all regions of the Kingdom from July 15-21, there have been 14,648 offenders, including 4,565 for violating residency regulations, 1,126 for labor violations and 8,957 for border violations.
The report said that 270 people were arrested while trying to cross the border into the Kingdom: 46 percent were Yemeni citizens, 44 percent were Ethiopians, and 10 percent were of other nationalities.
In addition, 127 people were arrested for trying to cross into neighboring countries, and five were arrested for involvement in transporting and harboring violators.
The total number of violators who were subjected to procedures was 60,622, including 50,999 men and 9,623 women.
The authorities transferred 44,765 offenders to their respective diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, while 3,614 were transferred to complete their travel reservations and 7,852 were deported.
The Ministry of Interior said that whoever facilitates the entry of violators to the Kingdom, transports them or provides shelter or any other form of support will face imprisonment for up to 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million ($260,000), confiscation of the means of transport or residence employed in the violation, and defamation.
The ministry called on people to report any violation on the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions. For all other regions of the Kingdom, the numbers are 999 and 996.
