In Saudi Arabia, 20,000 illegal Residents Arrested in a Week.

Abu Dhabi: As many as 19,812 violators of residency and labour laws, including those who crossed the border illegally, were arrested in Saudi Arabia from June 24 to 30, a report released by the Interior Ministry on Saturday said.

The report said 8,570 expatriates had violated residency laws and 947 labour laws, while those who violated the border security system were 10,295.

It added some 224 people were apprehended, while attempting to infiltrate into the Kingdom through its southern borders; 47 per cent were Ethiopians, 43 per cent Yemenis, 5 per cent Somalians and the remaining were from various other nationalities.

It said 47 people were caught, while attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally.

The report said 5 people were arrested and charged with providing accommodation and transport to a number of illegal expatriates.

Over 5.6 million violators of residency and labour laws as well as border security system were arrested in Saudi Arabia since November 2017, of whom 1,553,667 were deported to their home countries, a report released by the Interior Ministry last month said.

The report said 5,615,884 violators were apprehended in all regions across the Kingdom.

Of these, 4,304,206 expatriates had violated residency laws and 802,125 were in violation of labour laws. Violators of the border security system were 509,553.

The ministry said some 116,908 people were apprehended while attempting to infiltrate into the Kingdom through its southern borders; 54 per cent were Ethiopians, 43 per cent Yemenis and the remaining 3 per cent were from various other nationalities.

It said some 9,508 were caught while attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally.

The ministry said 8,222 people, including 2,766 Saudis, were accused of providing accommodation and transport to a number of illegal expatriates. Some 2,761 Saudis were interrogated, punished and released, while 5 are still being probed.

The report said 53,916 expatriates, consisting of 49,954 men and 3,962 women are remanded to custody. Summary penalties were handed out to 714,208 violators.

The campaign said 901,700 violators were referred to their embassies and consulates to issue them travel documents, while 1,047,340 were completing their bookings for outbound flights. Meanwhile, some 1,553,667 violators were deported.