MAKKAH, 27 February 2007 — An electronic fingerprinting facility along with several other advanced techniques to track down violators of visa regulations has been opened by the Passport Department in Makkah yesterday.
Speaking on the occasion, Director of Makkah’s Passport Department Col. Aed Al-Luqmani said all expatriates who were involved in violations of visa regulations would be subjected to finger printing.
“However, the new system, which will end the tendency of violators returning to the Kingdom under false names, will be fully operational only after all the equipment required for the service are installed in the office,” he said.
Director of the Expatriate Investigation Section Lt. Col. Shoayl Al-Matrafi, and other top officials attended the function.
Also yesterday, Col. Luqmani visited the deportation center, which has a capacity to hold 500 people. Speaking to the inmates, the official said, “The department is keen on improving the quality of the services offered to detainees at the center. Work is under way to provide excellent service at the center so inmates do not feel that they are in a jail. The only difference is that they do not have the freedom to go out.”
The official added that detainees are being repatriated on a first-come-first-serve basis. On Sunday, eight busloads were sent to the Jeddah airport for deportation.
