MAKKAH, 29 December 2006 — Clandestine transportation services are in full effect during this year’s Haj, with people coming up with ingenious ways of entering the holy cities either as pilgrims without Haj permits or workers seeking to cash in on the seasonal local business boon.
Officers manning checkpoints leading into the holy city of Makkah describe finding people hiding under sacks of flour, or crouching amid sacrificial sheep. Some men have even tried casually walking past authorities hidden beneath women’s abayas, believing that if they pose as women behind veils they wouldn’t be stopped and asked for papers.
Hammad Al-Salemi, an officer at the Shumaisy checkpoint on the Jeddah-Makkah Expressway, said yesterday that his team heard voices inside a container truck and discovered 21 people huddled inside.
When they opened the doors, it appeared that the people had been gasping for air due to insufficient circulation.
Drivers are more than willing to smuggle pilgrims and undocumented workers for a fee, up to SR2,000 ($533).
“Foreigners without Haj permits seem more willing to pay this high transportation cost this year because Arafat Day takes place on a Friday,” said Jamaan Al-Otaiby, who claimed that he used to smuggle pilgrims to Makkah but doesn’t do it anymore.
Taxi drivers are also willing to risk taking people to the holy cities, though it costs more for people without visas — it’s illegal to transport undocumented residents, after all.
Arab News observed the drivers haggling with potential passengers in front of the taxi stands in Bab Makkah and Kilo 14 in Jeddah. The drivers were demanding up to SR150 for people without Haj permit and up to SR500 for people without residence permits (iqamas).
Fatima Abdullah, an Indonesian residing illegally in the Kingdom, told Arab News that she paid SR300 to travel to Makkah a month ago when the increased security for Haj had not been put into effect yet.
