Saudi Arabia arrests over 15,400 people in weekly sweep over immigration, labour and border violations

Saudi Arabia arrested 15,430 people in a nationwide enforcement campaign over the past week for violating residency, labour and border security regulations, according to the Ministry of Interior, as cited by Arab News.Official figures showed that 7,913 people were detained for residency-related offences, while 3,480 were arrested for labour law violations. Another 4,037 people were held for attempting to cross the Kingdom’s borders illegally.The ministry said 1,542 people were intercepted while trying to enter Saudi Arabia unlawfully. Of those, 53 per cent were Ethiopian nationals, 46 per cent were Yemeni, and the remaining one per cent were from other nationalities.Authorities also arrested 30 people attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally and detained another 27 individuals accused of transporting, sheltering or otherwise assisting immigration offenders.The Ministry of Interior warned that anyone who facilitates illegal entry into Saudi Arabia by providing transport, accommodation or other forms of assistance could face up to 15 years in prison, fines of up to SR1 million and confiscation of vehicles or property used in the offence.The ministry urged members of the public to report suspected violations by calling 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, or 999 and 996 in other parts of the Kingdom.