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RIYADH: The Madinah police arrested 1,668 persons, who were living in the region in violation of local regulations, in the last one week.
Madinah district police chief, Maj. Gen. Abdul Hadi Al-Shahrani, said those arrested were of different nationalities but that all were in violation of local labor and immigration regulations.
The suspects included workers without resident permits, persons who are not working in the right professions recorded in their residence permits, those who are working for different sponsors other than the one listed in their residence permits, those who had run away from their sponsors and those who were illegal street vendors.
He added the raids were conducted with the cooperation of the relevant government agencies who are all involved in following local regulations.
He pointed out that those arrested were in government custody in prisons and that they would be deported after a formal inquiry into their respective offenses. He also stated that the campaign would continue in the coming weeks.
During the operations, police cordoned off certain areas to prevent offenders from escaping.
The security authorities conduct regular inspections to apprehend illegal workers with the aim of curbing crimes such as theft, sorcery, employing illegal workers, brewing liquor and preventing other illegal and nefarious activities.
According to officials, most crimes in the Kingdom are committed by illegal residents who have overstayed their visas. Consequently, the government has intensified its campaign against this group.
During the amnesty period offered by the late Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, illegal residents were allowed to leave the Kingdom without any penalties during a specified grace period.
The Ministry of Interior earlier advised all illegal expatriates in the Kingdom to correct their work and residency status following the end of the amnesty period on Nov. 1, 2013 or leave the country.