14,796 violators of residency, labor and border security laws arrested in a week

According to the Saudi Gazette, the Saudi Ministry of Interior has announced the arrest of 14,796 individuals for violating residency, labor, and border security laws. The enforcement actions took place during a week-long campaign conducted between September 3 and September 9, involving joint inspections by various government agencies across the Kingdom.

Data provided by the Ministry indicates that the majority of those detained were in breach of the Residency Law, accounting for 7,504 arrests. Additionally, 3,783 individuals were apprehended for violating Border Security regulations, while 3,509 were cited for Labor Law violations. The report further noted that 1,273 people were intercepted while attempting to cross the border into Saudi Arabia illegally. Among these border-crossing attempts, 44 percent involved Yemeni nationals and 55 percent involved Ethiopian nationals.

Following the arrests, the Ministry of Interior has initiated legal and administrative procedures for the detainees. Approximately 12,057 illegal residents have already been deported. Furthermore, 18,677 violators have been referred to their respective diplomatic missions to facilitate the issuance of necessary travel documents, while 3,487 individuals are currently being processed for travel arrangements. These measures are part of an ongoing effort by Saudi authorities to regulate the labor market and maintain border security.