The Ministry of Interior issued fines of up to SR100,000 against transporters and all those involved. Fines of up to SR20,000 were also imposed on those who were attempting to perform Hajj without a permit. The ministry has said expatriate violators will be deported and banned from re-entering the Kingdom for 10 years after serving their sentences.
In a separate incident, security forces arrested a Yemeni resident for transporting three residents of the same nationality through dirt roads and valleys in an attempt to enter and remain in Makkah without a Hajj permit. Eight Turkish nationals were also arrested for attempting to enter and remain in Makkah without the necessary permission.
The ministry has called for the confiscation of vehicles used in transporting violators and stressed that obtaining an official Hajj permit was a basic requirement. It has urged everyone to comply with Hajj regulations and cooperate with the competent authorities to ensure pilgrims’ safety and security.
It also called on the public to report violations via 911 in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and the Eastern Region, and 999 in the rest of the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior said security forces have arrested 8,943 illegal residents during nationwide inspection campaigns carried out from May 14 to 20 in coordination with other government agencies.
The ministry said those arrested included 4,638 violators of residency regulations, 2,810 violators of border security laws and 1,495 labour law violators.
Authorities also detained 1,158 people attempting to enter the kingdom illegally, including 61per cent Ethiopian nationals, 38 per cent Yemenis and 1per cent of other nationalities, while 54 people were arrested trying to leave the country unlawfully.
The ministry said 9,832 violators had been deported, while 16,402 others were referred to diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents and 1,619 were referred to complete travel reservations.
Eight people accused of transporting, sheltering or employing illegal residents were also arrested. According to the ministry, 23,679 expatriates, including 22,629 men and 1,050 women, are currently undergoing legal procedures.
Saudi authorities warned that facilitating illegal entry, transport or sheltering of violators could carry penalties of up to 15 years in prison and fines reaching SR1 million, in addition to the confiscation of vehicles and properties used in the offences.