The seven-hour search, carried out under the leadership of Capt. Fahd Al-Bariqi, took place at midnight and covered nine locations in the Faisaliya district.

The arrests were made after officers started monitoring the activities of the illegal workers, which included those who had violated iqama regulations.

The campaign, according to the Passport Department, is part of a strategic plan to rid the country of illegal expatriate workers, as well as foreigners involved in illicit activities.

The department had deployed specialist officers to raid suspected brothels and illegal liquor manufacturing centers.

The raided places included furnished apartments, flats and private rooms and the arrests carried out in coordination with security officers and umdas (district chiefs).

A Passport Department source told Arab News that the authority has appointed secret agents to monitor certain places suspected of being sources of illegal activity.

The number of illegal workers has increased substantially over the past few years. Various security agencies have been successful in apprehending a large number of them.