Saudi arrests 260k residence and labour violators

Saudi Arabia’s joint field security campaign has arrested 264,245 violators of residence, labour and border security regulations, according to state media agency SPA.

The campaign to pursue and arrest violators across the kingdom started in November, with 142,869 people apprehended for residence violations, 87,487 taken in for labour regulations, and 33,889 arrested for border security violations.

The campaign kicked off across the Kingdom in mid-November to pursue and arrest those violating residence, labor and border security laws and regulations.

A total of 3,321 people were caught trying to cross Saudi Arabia’s borders, 73 per cent of whom were Yemenis, 25 per cent Ethiopians, and 2 per cent of different nationalities. Of those caught, 3,054 were sent back to their country of origin.

Officials arrested 548 people for being involved in harbouring and transporting violators of residence, labour and border security regulations, while 92 citizens were caught for being involved in transporting and sheltering expatriates violating regulations.

Immediate penalties were imposed on 39,422 expatriates, while 37,506 violators were referred to their respective diplomatic missions for travel documents and 56,899 were deported. The number of expatriates currently detained stands at 14,699, including 12,782 men and 1,917 women.