RIYADH: Nearly 17,000 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 Aug. 26 to Sept. 1, there have been 16,638 offenders, including 5,800 for violating residency regulations, 1,455 for labor violations and 9,383 for border violations.
The report said that 849 people were arrested while trying to cross the border into the Kingdom: 55 percent were Yemeni citizens, 43 percent were Ethiopians, and 2 percent were of other nationalities.
In addition, 19 people were arrested for trying to cross into neighboring countries, and 11 were arrested for involvement in transporting and harboring violators.
The total number of violators who were subjected to procedures was 81,211, including 69,315 men and 11,896 women.
The authorities transferred 63,491 offenders to their respective diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, while 3,382 were transferred to complete their travel reservations and 9,929 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.
