The police said anti-begging authorities launched a campaign under the title “Together Against the Phenomenon of Begging” in which a number of other bodies concerned participated including the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice and the Passport Department.

Dammam Police spokesman Lt. Col. Ziyad Al-Riqaiti did not specify the nationality of the beggars, but said they were all caught in a single operation that was carried out simultaneously in Al-Nakheel and Al-Badiyah districts.

“The gang of beggars, led by an Arab man in his 40s, consisted of old and young men, including a newborn baby,” he said.

The spokesman said a “large” sum of money, communication equipment and forged papers were found at the arrest locations.