RIYADH: Nearly 13,000 violators of residency, work and border security systems have been arrested in the Kingdom in one week, according to an official report.
In the campaigns that took place in all regions of the Kingdom from July 29 to Aug. 4, there have been 12,899 offenders, including 4,130 for violating residency regulations, 1,048 for labor violations and 7,721 for border violations.
The report said that 322 people were arrested while trying to cross the border into the Kingdom: 49 percent were Yemeni citizens, 49 percent were Ethiopians, and 2 percent were of other nationalities.
In addition, 51 people were arrested for trying to cross into neighboring countries, and five were arrested for involvement in transporting and harboring violators.
The authorities transferred 53,815 offenders to their respective diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, while 4,406 were transferred to complete their travel reservations and 6,380 were deported.
The Ministry of Interior said that whoever facilitates the entry of violators to the Kingdom, transports them or provides shelter or any other form of support will face imprisonment for up to 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million ($260,000), confiscation of the means of transport or residence employed in the violation, and defamation.
