RIYADH: According to the Saudi Press Agency on Saturday, Saudi officials detained 20,896 individuals in a single week for violating laws pertaining to residency, employment, and border security. An official report states that 11,930 persons were arrested for breaking residency restrictions, 5,649 were detained for attempting to cross the border illegally, and 3,317 were detained for labor-related reasons.
According to the report, out of the 1,374 individuals detained for attempting to enter the Kingdom unlawfully, 55% were Ethiopian, 43% were Yemeni, and 2% were of other nationalities. Twenty-four were detained for their roles in harbouring and transporting violators, while another 107 were apprehended while attempting to enter neighbouring nations. According to the Ministry of Interior, anyone caught helping someone enter the Kingdom illegally—including by offering them a place to stay or transportation—may be imprisoned for up to 15 years, fined up to SR1 million ($260,000), and have their property and cars seized.
The toll-free numbers for reporting suspected infractions are 911 in Makkah and Riyadh and 999 or 996 in other parts of the Kingdom. Anyone discovered to be facilitating illegal entry into the Kingdom faces a potential 15-year prison sentence, according to the Saudi Ministry of Interior.
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