Saudi Arabia arrests over 15,500 residency, labor and border violators

RIYADH, Jul 5: Saudi authorities arrested 15,591 people in one week for violating residency, labor and border security regulations as part of ongoing nationwide enforcement campaigns, the Ministry of Interior said.

According to the ministry, 7,759 people were arrested for violating residency laws, 4,488 for attempting to illegally cross the Kingdom's borders, and 3,344 for labor-related violations.

The ministry said that among the 1,629 people detained while attempting to enter Saudi Arabia illegally, 53 percent were Ethiopian nationals, 46 percent were Yemeni nationals, while the remaining 1 percent were of other nationalities.

Authorities also arrested 58 people for attempting to cross into neighboring countries illegally and 17 individuals accused of transporting, sheltering or otherwise assisting residency and border violators.

The Ministry of Interior reiterated that anyone found facilitating illegal entry into the Kingdom—including by providing transportation, accommodation or other forms of assistance—faces severe penalties. Offenders could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison, fined up to SR1 million (about $267,000), and have vehicles and property used in the offense confiscated.

The ministry urged the public to report suspected violations by calling 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 in other parts of the Kingdom.