Saudi Arabia arrests over 22,000 in week of nationwide security raids, crackdowns

Saudi security services have arrested over 22,000 individuals this month, in a nationwide campaign of raids and inspections to crack down on violations of residency, migration and labour laws.

According to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior last week, a total of 22,373 individuals were arrested during a week of intensive inspection raids throughout the Kingdom. The raids were reportedly conducted by various government agencies from 5 September to 11 September.

Those arrested were apprehended for a variety of alleged violations of the Saudi legal system, including 14,216 for violating the Residency Law, 4,943 for breaching the Border Security Law and 3,214 for infringement upon the Labour Law. A further 1,507 individuals were arrested while reportedly attempting to cross the border into Saudi Arabia, with a majority of them being Ethiopian nationals numbering 53 per cent and Yemenis numbering 46 per cent.

Seven individuals were also apprehended for their alleged involvement in the illegal transportation, sheltering and employment of those violators, with the Ministry of Interior warning that anyone aiding illegal immigration activities could potentially face severe penalties such as up to 15 years in prison, fines up to SR1 million ($266,000), as well as the confiscation of vehicles and properties used in those violations.

According to the Ministry’s reported statistics, as a result of the nationwide raids, 15,536 expatriates are currently undergoing legal processes, with 6,395 of them referred to their respective diplomatic missions for travel documents, while 13,475 have been deported and 2,030 are completing travel reservations.

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