Saudi Arabia's authorities arrested 19,541 people in one week for breaking residency, work, and border security laws, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Details of the Arrests
Residency Law Violations:
11,402 people were arrested for staying in the Kingdom illegally.
Illegal Border Crossings:
4,775 individuals were caught attempting to cross Saudi borders.
Of the 953 people trying to enter the Kingdom:
58% were Ethiopian
40% were Yemeni
2% belonged to other nationalities
Labor Law Violations:
3,364 arrests were related to illegal labor activities.
Additional Arrests and Penalties
129 people were caught attempting to cross into neighboring countries.
27 individuals were detained for helping violators, including providing transportation or shelter.
The Ministry of Interior issued a warning:
Facilitating illegal entry may result in:
Up to 15 years in prison
Fines of up to SR1 million ($260,000)
Confiscation of vehicles and property.
Reporting Violations
Toll-free numbers to report violations:
911 for Makkah and Riyadh and 999 or 996 for other regions.
