MAKKAH, 27 June 2007 — With an enormous influx of expatriates and overstayers from a diverse range of backgrounds entering the Kingdom, the type of scandals and crimes surfacing every so often in Saudi Arabia leaves people amazed and at times shocked.

Recently, a team of police officers and Passport Department officials raided an illegal farm located 20 kilometers outside Makkah. Officials were left shocked at the extremities that people go to in order to earn quick money without paying any scant regard to the hazards their actions can pose to members of the public.

The farm, which grew all types of plants, vegetables and fruits, was operated by a group of Bangladeshi overstayers, who were arrested for residing in the Kingdom without proper papers. While investigating the farm, officials were left shocked to find that sewage water was being used to irrigate it and that the harvest would be distributed for sale at various markets in Makkah.

“Crops grown using sewage water are very dangerous to people’s health and lives. Eating products grown like this can cause several illnesses like typhoid and Maltese fever,” said Dr. Hassan Aref, a medical expert at the Al-Tunsi Hospital in Makkah.

According to police officials, the Bangladeshi overstayers had carefully selected their location to avoid detection and to be able to carry out their dubious activities in total secrecy. Leading the raid was Maj. Mansour Al-Otaibi from Makkah’s Passport Department.

“The farm is located 20 kilometers outside Makkah. A total of 17 Bangladeshi overstayers were caught and have now been transferred to the Expatriate Department and will be soon be deported to their home country,” said Col. Ayed Al-Lukmani, head of the Passport Department in Makkah.

Arab News accompanied the authorities in the raid and was able to gain access to some of those arrested. Gholam Mir, one of those arrested, told Arab News, “The farm is owned by a Saudi. We are legally leasing it from this man.”

He added, “The farm is located far from Makkah for a reason. We selected this area to ensure we’re able to work here without being noticed. Sewage water gathers here and we’ve been making the most out of it. Instead of paying for proper irrigation water we’ve been using sewage water to grow our fruit and vegetables.”

Ismail Atehar, another one of the men arrested, told Arab News that they would also breed fish. “We purchased large fish tanks to breed fish and used sewage water instead of pure water, which is very expensive. The fish would grow big very quickly,” he said.

Merza Shehr said, “Crops grown using sewage water grow quickly in amazing sizes. This is especially the case with greens. The stuff we grow is sold in Makkah with other vegetables. Customers are amazed at their size and shape but don’t realize how they’ve been grown.”

When asked whether they realized that their produce is harmful to people’s health, Shoman Be said, “Yes. The money we were making was very good and so we just continued.”

Speaking about the harms of eating such produce, Dr. Hassan Aref said, “Products such as these negatively affect pregnant women and their babies and can cause parasites to develop in people’s bodies. People need to be careful when buying vegetables and fruits and should try buying from reputable sellers.”

He added, “Irrigating vegetables and fruits with sewage water is as harmful as using insecticide and other chemical pollutants that are poisonous. Such practices could potentially lead to cancer, and liver and kidney diseases.”