The Ministry of Interior, Saudi Arabia, has announced the arrest of 7,760 people, who were caught for violating residency, labour and border regulations.

The arrests that were carried out by Saudi authorities were a result of nationwide enforcement operations, diligently conducted for an entire week from May 28 to June 3.

The operations were jointly done along with several government agencies. Thousands of individuals were nabbed for breaching immigration and employment laws across Saudi Arabia.

Official data confirmed detention of 4,060 people for residency-related violations; 2,574 people were detained for breaching border security regulations. Another 1,126 individuals were nabbed for labour law offences.

The Ministry of Interior said that Ethiopians accounted for 70% of those detained at the border, followed by Yemenis at 28%. Those from other nationalities accounted for the remaining 2%.

Saudi authorities arrested 25 individuals, who attempted to leave the country through illegal routes, while 1,184 people were intercepted for trying to enter Saudi Arabia illegally.

The ministry said that legal procedures were also currently in progress against 21,774 expatriates, including 20,455 men and 1,319 women.
Under Saudi law, facilitating illegal entry and sheltering undocumented individuals are termed as a criminal offence. – Image credit: SPA – editor@nrifocus.com