Saudi Arabia arrests over 21,000 expatriates in a week
Last Updated on November 5, 2024 5:58 am
The country’s law enforcement agencies have arrested more than 21,000 expatriates on charges of violating housing, labor and border security laws in the Middle Eastern country of Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Ministry of Interior said in a statement on Sunday (November 3) that 21,370 expatriates were arrested in raids in different parts of Saudi Arabia from October 24 to October 30. They were arrested as part of a nationwide security operation.
The country’s Ministry of Interior said that among those arrested, 12,274 were for violating housing laws, 5,684 for violating border security laws, and 3,412 for violating labor laws. The country’s various security forces and government agencies conducted joint raids and arrested these expatriates.
The statement said that 1,492 people were arrested while trying to enter Saudi Arabia illegally by crossing the border. Of them, 35 percent were Yemenis, 61 percent were Ethiopians, and 4 percent were citizens of other countries.
In addition, 34 more expatriates have been arrested for attempting to leave Saudi Arabia illegally. At the same time, law enforcement agencies have also arrested 15 people living in Saudi Arabia for transporting and sheltering those who violate the housing and work regulations. Currently, legal action is underway against 17,543 expatriates. Of them, 15,317 are men and 2,226 are women.
According to a report by the media outlet Arabian Business, 10,411 of the arrested expatriates have been sent to their respective diplomatic missions to collect the necessary travel documents before being sent back to the country. In addition, 2,439 have been ordered to finalize their return arrangements from Saudi Arabia. At the same time, 12,196 people have already been repatriated from Saudi Arabia to their respective countries.
There is a provision for 15 years in prison and a fine of 1 million Saudi riyals for anyone who tries to help someone enter the Middle Eastern country illegally. The Saudi Ministry of Interior has repeatedly warned about this.
Saudi Arabia, a desert country, is currently home to about 34.8 million people. Millions of migrant workers from different countries around the world work in Saudi Arabia. Local media in Saudi Arabia regularly report on the ongoing crackdown on lawbreakers and the detention of illegal immigrants in the country.