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The Ministry of Interior said the campaigns netted 7,103 individuals for residency law breaches, 3,654 for border security infractions and 3,397 for labor regulation violations. These figures reflect the scale of the ongoing enforcement drive that authorities conduct on a regular basis to maintain compliance. The statement highlighted the collaborative nature of the inspections involving multiple security agencies.
In addition, the interior ministry reported the apprehension of 1,418 people attempting illegal entry into the kingdom, with 54 percent identified as Yemeni nationals, 45 percent as Ethiopian and the remainder from other countries. Another 23 individuals were detained while trying to exit the country unlawfully. Such border-related arrests form a consistent component of the weekly updates provided by the ministry.
Seventeen people were taken into custody for transporting, sheltering or employing the violators, the ministry’s tally showed. Overall, 30,679 violators including 28,187 men and 2,492 women remain in the process of facing legal action following their detention. The gender breakdown underscores the broad scope of those affected by the enforcement measures.
According to the ministry, 17,903 of the violators have been referred to their respective diplomatic missions for further handling while 5,424 are completing travel arrangements. A total of 12,613 have already been deported as part of the procedures. These steps illustrate the systematic approach taken once arrests are made during the campaigns.
The Ministry of Interior warned that anyone facilitating the illegal entry or stay of violators faces severe consequences including imprisonment for up to 15 years and fines reaching one million Saudi riyals. The statement classified such offenses as major crimes that could also result in the confiscation of vehicles and properties used in the violations along with public shaming of those convicted. It stressed the importance of strict adherence to these regulations.
The ministry encouraged the public to report any suspected violations using dedicated hotlines, specifying 911 for the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province and either 999 or 996 for other areas. This call for community involvement is a standard feature in the ministry’s periodic security briefings. Officials have consistently sought public cooperation to enhance the effectiveness of these operations.
This latest set of arrests continues a pattern seen in immediately preceding weeks, with the ministry having announced 14,970 violators detained in the period from July 16 to 22 in a similar campaign, as carried in official updates. Earlier operations in July had also yielded comparable numbers exceeding 15,000 in one instance according to ministry data released through various channels. The sustained activity demonstrates the priority placed on regulating residency and labor within the kingdom.
