A bird's eye view of Saudi Arabia. ARCHIVE

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has issued a stern warning that anyone aiding illegal residents or border violators faces penalties of up to 15 years in prison, fines of up to SR1 million (Dh978,663), and the confiscation of vehicles or property used in such crimes. The warning came as authorities announced the deportation of 11,279 illegal residents in a single week, following nationwide inspection campaigns carried out from August 21 to 27. According to the ministry, security forces, in coordination with multiple government agencies, arrested 20,319 violators during the week-long campaign. This included 12,891 residency offenders, 3,888 border security violators, and 3,540 labor law offenders. Authorities also intercepted 1,238 individuals attempting to cross the border illegally—roughly half of them Yemeni nationals, followed closely by Ethiopians. Another 22 people were caught attempting to leave the kingdom unlawfully. In total, 20,916 detainees were referred to their diplomatic missions to secure travel documents, while 1,786 were transferred to finalize travel bookings. The ministry further confirmed that 16 people were arrested for sheltering, transporting, or employing illegal residents. Currently, 27,417 expatriates, including nearly 2,600 women, are undergoing legal procedures. The Ministry of Interior emphasized that penalties are severe for anyone caught supporting illegals. “Those found guilty face up to 15 years in prison, fines reaching SR1 million, and the confiscation of vehicles or properties used in the violations,” the ministry said. ICA/Expat Media
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