During a week-long joint field campaign in all regions of the kingdom from February 13 to February 19, 2025, authorities apprehended a total of 21,222 violators of residency, work, and border security regulations.
The breakdown of the campaign’s outcomes is as follows:
1. A total of 21,222 violators were apprehended, including 13,202 violators of residency regulations, 4,911 violators of border security regulations, and 3,109 violators of work regulations.
2. Out of the individuals caught attempting to cross the kingdom’s borders, 1,376 were stopped. Among them, 40% were Yemeni, 58% were Ethiopian, and 2% held other nationalities. Additionally, 86 people were apprehended trying to leave the kingdom illegally.
3. Twenty-two individuals were arrested for smuggling, sheltering, and employing violators of residency, work, and border security regulations.
4. Currently, 40,519 violators are undergoing regulatory enforcement procedures, including 36,213 men and 4,306 women.
5. A total of 30,874 violators were referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents. Furthermore, 3,910 violators were referred to complete their travel reservations, while 10,170 violators were deported.
The Ministry of Interior emphasized that aiding the entry, transportation, sheltering, or provision of any form of assistance to violators of the kingdom’s border security regulations is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to one million riyals, confiscation of the means of transport and accommodation used for shelter, as well as public defamation. This crime is considered a serious offense warranting arrest and is deemed a breach of honor and trust. Citizens are urged to report any violations by calling “911” in Mecca, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or “999” and “996” in other regions of the kingdom.
