19,000 violators apprehended in Saudi Arabia: Security campaigns to strengthen order

As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance security and regulate the labor market, the Saudi Ministry of Interior announced the results of joint field campaigns conducted across the Kingdom to monitor and apprehend violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations. These campaigns, carried out over a single week, resulted in the arrest of 19,101 violators, including 1,663 individuals who attempted to infiltrate the country's borders illegally.

General context: “A nation without violators” campaign

These campaigns are part of the comprehensive national strategy adopted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, known in the media as the “A Nation Without Violators” campaign. Launched in 2017, this campaign aims to regularize the status of undocumented residents and grant them a grace period to leave the country without penalty, followed by intensified security efforts to apprehend those who have not complied with regulations. These efforts aim to achieve several strategic objectives, most notably regulating the labor market, reducing the informal economy, enhancing social security, and protecting the Kingdom's borders from smuggling and infiltration operations that may be linked to other criminal activities.

Details of the results of the recent field campaign

The Ministry of Interior explained that the campaigns that took place during the period from 24 Sha'ban to 1 Ramadan 1447 AH revealed the following figures:

• Total number of violators: 19,101 violators were apprehended.
• Violators of the residency system: Their number reached 12,153 people.
• Violators of the border security system: Their number reached 4,103 people.
• Violators of the labor system: Their number reached 2,845 people.
• Attempts to infiltrate the country: 1,663 infiltrators were apprehended, 45% of whom were Yemenis, 54% Ethiopians, and 1% belonged to other nationalities.
• Attempts to leave the country: 31 people were apprehended while attempting to cross the border out of the Kingdom in an irregular manner.
• Those involved in assisting: 28 people were arrested for their involvement in transporting, harboring, employing, and covering up for offenders.

Importance and expected effects

These security campaigns have significant impacts both locally and regionally. Locally, these measures contribute to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 by creating a safe and regulated investment environment and providing job opportunities for citizens by reducing irregular employment. They also enhance the sense of security among citizens and legal residents. Regionally, these campaigns send a clear message about the Kingdom's commitment to protecting its borders and sovereignty, especially given the unstable conditions in some neighboring countries, which are a major source of infiltration.

Strict penalties and a warning from the Ministry of Interior

The Ministry of Interior reiterated that anyone who facilitates the entry of violators of the Kingdom's border security regulations, or provides them with transportation, shelter, or any other form of assistance, will be subject to severe penalties, including imprisonment for up to 15 years and a fine of up to one million Saudi riyals. In addition, the means of transportation and accommodation used in the crime will be confiscated, and the offender will be publicly shamed. The Ministry urged citizens and residents to report any violations by calling 911 in the Makkah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, and 999 and 996 in the rest of the Kingdom.