Saudi Arabia arrests nearly 19,000 in week-long crackdown
Saudi Arabia has intensified nationwide enforcement of residency, labour and border security laws, arresting nearly 19,000 people in coordinated operations carried out across the kingdom over the past week, authorities said.
By Abdullahi Yusuf
The Ministry of Interior said inspections conducted between December 18 and December 24 targeted violations of residency permits, labour regulations and illegal border crossings, reflecting what it described as sustained efforts to regulate the labour market and strengthen border control.
According to the ministry, 18,877 people were detained during the period. Of those arrested, 11,991 were accused of violating residency rules, 3,078 of breaching labour laws and 3,808 of attempting to cross borders illegally.
Saudi authorities said Ethiopians accounted for 55% of those caught trying to enter the country unlawfully, followed by Yemeni nationals at 44%, with the remaining 1% from other countries.
The ministry added that more than 13,000 people were deported during the week, while tens of thousands of others remain in various stages of legal and administrative processing. Some 20,000 individuals were referred to diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, while several thousand were preparing for departure.
Security forces also detained more than 1,300 people for attempting to enter Saudi Arabia illegally and dozens more for trying to leave the country through unauthorised routes. Fourteen suspects were arrested for allegedly transporting, sheltering or employing people without legal status.
Officials said nearly 29,000 expatriates — the majority of them men — are currently undergoing legal procedures as enforcement operations continue nationwide.
The Ministry of Interior warned that those found facilitating illegal entry or residence could face prison sentences of up to 15 years, fines of up to one million riyals, and the confiscation of vehicles or property used in the offences.
Saudi authorities urged residents and employers to comply with existing regulations and report violations, saying the measures are part of broader efforts to safeguard national security and regulate the workforce.
With additional information from Gulf News
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