JEDDAH, 15 August 2006 — Passport Department officials of the Makkah Region arrested 120 foreign beggars in raids at several houses in south Jeddah yesterday.
The beggars, whose ages ranged from seven to 70, were of various nationalities and a good number of them were physically deformed. While the arrested beggars will be handed over to security officials, inquiries are underway to find out how begging networks are able to pursue their antisocial trade in city streets without any noticeable decrease.
Col. Musfar Al-Talaili, commander of the security patrols at the Passport Department, told Arab News that his department conducts intensive arrest campaigns at all suspicious locations where beggar gangs are likely to operate. The arrested foreigners are then checked to verify the genuineness of their residence permits and legal action is taken against violators.
