“Officers were waiting for the violators at the checkpoint following a tipoff that a bus carrying many illegal foreigners have been heading for Makkah,” said 1st Lt. Abdullah Al-Harithy, commander of road safety in Al-Sale, in Taif municipality. The illegal residents were of Asian origin.

The driver allegedly confessed that he was delivering the passengers in exchange for SR1,000 from each of them.

Illegal residents face a fine of up to SR10,000 and a month in prison for violating the Kingdom's immigration law before being deported. Those caught harboring or transporting illegal residents could face jail time and a fine of SR10,000 for each illegal resident.