JEDDAH, 1 December 2002 — Alkhobar police have arrested a gang of 13 Arab expatriates with forged travel documents and driving licenses issued from the traffic department of the Makkah region.
The arrest took place when the police patrol noticed two men dressed as Saudis moving about in Alkhobar market in a suspicious manner, Al-Watan newspaper reported yesterday.
Assuming that they were Saudis, the police asked them to produce their IDs. But the two showed some travel letters issued by their alleged sponsors. On careful examination it was found that the documents were fake.
On further questioning, the two men revealed their real identities. They were members of a group of foreigners who entered the country illegally.
They also led the police to their hideout in the northern part of the city. None of them had valid residence or labor permit. Some of them were carrying passports belonging to other people and forged driving licenses.
Investigation is under way to find if they are involved in other criminal acts. After preliminary investigations they will be handed over to the Passport Department for deportation.
In another operation in the region, police arrested four people with forged documents including driving licenses, the newspaper added.
The four men disguised as Saudis were arrested in Hail while they were trying to break into a closed house. On a tip-off from some passersby, police foiled their efforts. The arrested expatriates also confessed to carrying out their nocturnal operations in several houses while the residents were out for prayers or shopping. The expatriates were carrying forged Saudi ID cards with them.
The city police have stepped up patrols following reports of attempted burglary in houses and schools in the last days of Ramadan, Al-Riyadh daily reported yesterday.
