Saudi Arabia arrested more than 20,700 people in the past week as it looks to stop residency, labour and security breaches. The inspection campaigns carried out between February 27 and March 5 in all regions of the Kingdom, to check compliance with residency, work and border security regulations, saw 20,749 violations recorded, including: Saudi residency, labour and security arrests 1,051 individuals were apprehended attempting to cross the border into the Kingdom illegally, of whom 43 per cent were Yemenis, 54 per cent Ethiopians, and 3 per cent of other nationalities. 90 people were arrested for attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally. 12 people involved in transporting, sheltering, and employing violators were arrested. A total of 40,173 expatriates (35,862 men and 4,311 women) are currently undergoing procedures for enforcing regulations. 32,375 people were detained for violating laws and instructed to contact their countries’ embassies or consulates to obtain proper travel documentation; 2,576 were told to make booking arrangements for their departure, and 10,024 were repatriated. The Ministry of Interior has warned that any person who facilitates the illegal entry of individuals into the Kingdom, transports them on its territory, provides them with shelter or any other assistance or service may be penalised with […]