A resident of Jazan was arrested for transporting border security violators and faces severe penalties
As part of ongoing security efforts to combat violations of residency and border security regulations, patrols of the General Directorate of Mujahideen in the Jazan region were able to thwart an operation to transport violators, thus confirming the vigilance of security personnel and their strict application of regulations in all regions of the Kingdom.
Details of the incident in Jazan
The General Directorate of Mujahideen announced the arrest of a Yemeni resident in the Jazan region after he was found to be involved in transporting three other Yemeni nationals who were found to be in violation of border security regulations. They were apprehended while being transported in a vehicle driven by the resident, which led to their detention and the initiation of preliminary legal procedures against them. The violators were referred to the relevant authorities, and the transporter was subsequently referred to the Public Prosecution for further investigation and the application of legal penalties.
Security context and tightening of penalties
This operation is part of the broader efforts of the Saudi Ministry of Interior to enhance border security and combat infiltration and smuggling. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia places great importance on border security due to its direct impact on national security and socio-economic stability. Joint field campaigns to track down and apprehend violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations are an integral part of the "A Nation Without Violators" strategy, which aims to eliminate the negative consequences of the presence of undocumented workers or infiltrators.
Border security is a sovereign issue that the state does not compromise on, as illegal infiltration is often linked to other crimes that may affect the security of society, such as smuggling contraband or involvement in illegal activities, which makes the process of apprehending carriers and facilitators a fundamental pillar in eliminating these violations.
Expected penalties: imprisonment, fines, and defamation
The official spokesperson for the General Directorate of Mujahideen reiterated the stern warning to anyone contemplating compromising national security by facilitating the entry of violators. He emphasized that the penalties in this regard are severe and deterrent, as anyone who facilitates the entry of violators of the Kingdom's border security regulations, transports them within the Kingdom, provides them with shelter, or offers them any assistance or service whatsoever, faces penalties reaching up to:
- Imprisonment for up to 15 years.
- A financial penalty of up to one million riyals.
- Confiscation of the means of transport and the accommodation used for sheltering.
- Defamation of the perpetrator.
It was also noted that this crime is considered a major crime that warrants arrest and violates honor and integrity, which means that its perpetrator faces serious legal and social consequences.
Call for cooperation and reporting
In order to strengthen community partnership in maintaining security, security authorities called upon all citizens and residents to cooperate and report any suspected violations of residency, labor, and border security regulations. Reports can be made via the official numbers designated for this purpose:
- The number (911) is available in the regions of Makkah, Riyadh, the Eastern Province and Madinah.
- The number (999) and the number (996) in the rest of the regions of the Kingdom.
The relevant authorities confirmed that all reports are handled with complete confidentiality, without any legal responsibility being imposed on the reporter, in order to encourage members of society to contribute effectively to protecting the security of the homeland.
