JEDDAH, 15 February — Security officers in Makkah have arrested about 3,000 illegal aliens and violators of iqama regulations who were trying to sneak into other parts of the country. Of them, 515 were caught while traveling by a desert road in vehicles rented by expatriate workers.
Informed sources said police were questioning the expatriates who tried to smuggle the illegals out of Makkah, charging up to SR200 per person.
The sources said more than 600 others were arrested when they were traveling in large trucks belonging to transport companies. About 2,000 others were held while traveling in private cars without proper doucments.
Police will question owners of companies which rented their vehicles to transport the illegal residents. -- Saeed Al-Abyadh
In a related development, Madinah police arrested a thief while trying to run away wearing an abaya. Maj. Gen. Yousuf Al-Binayyan, director of Madinah police, told Al-Madinah newspaper that the man was arrested at the checking point along the Hijrah Road.
