Riyadh: Joint field campaigns across the Kingdom have resulted in the arrest of 11,657 violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations within a single week.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the campaigns were carried out in all regions of the Kingdom, spanning from 02/12/1446 AH to 08/12/1446 AH, which corresponds to 05/29/2025 AD to 06/04/2025 AD.
The arrests included 6,981 violators of the residency system, 3,190 violators of border security regulations, and 1,486 violators of labor laws. A significant number of arrests involved individuals attempting to illegally cross the border into the Kingdom, totaling 1,324 people. Of these, 33% were Yemeni nationals, 65% Ethiopian nationals, and the remaining 2% from other nationalities. Additionally, 76 individuals were apprehended for attempting to cross the border out of the Kingdom illegally.
The campaign also led to the arrest of 10 people involved in transporting, harboring, employing, and concealing these violators. Currently, 17,018 expatriates are undergoing regulations implementation procedures, comprising 15,991 men and 1,027 women.
Out of the violators, 12,122 have been referred to their diplomatic missions for travel document procurement, 1,435 were directed to finalize their travel reservations, and 9,215 have been deported.
The Ministry of Interior has reiterated that anyone facilitating the entry, transport, shelter, or assistance of border security violators faces severe penalties, including up to 15 years in prison, fines reaching one million riyals, and confiscation of transportation and housing used for such activities. This crime is classified as a major offense warranting arrest, characterized as a violation of honor and trustworthiness. The Ministry urges the public to report any violations using the numbers 911 in the regions of Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, and 999 and 996 in other areas of the Kingdom.