The authorities had earlier announced that transporting pilgrims without Haj permits was a punishable crime.

Most of the violators have been identified as university or college students or unemployed youths, Al-Madinah daily reported on Sunday.

The punishments ranged from prison time to fine of up to SR10,000 per smuggled pilgrim.

The committee also recommended the confiscation of vehicles used by seven smugglers who repeated the violation several times.

The committee is examining the cases against the remaining violators, who were arrested at various entry points to the Haj locations during the season.

The committee has been examining cases of Saudi smugglers who were arrested and released conditionally for Eid Al-Adha celebrations over the past several weeks. The released smugglers were ordered to return to the committee after the Eid on Saturday.

“The violators of the Haj permit regulations received prison time ranging from five months to two years, while one of the violators was fined SR190,000,” Director of the Expatriates Administration in Jeddah Col. Husain Al-Harithy said, adding that the fine was calculated at the rate of SR10,000 for each illegal pilgrim the violator carried.

The official said the vehicles of smugglers would be confiscated only after the completion of legal procedures. The committee, which comprises a chairman and three members, first studies the cases sent to it by the passport officials and then it hears the testimonies of the violators before issuing its verdicts.

Another official of the committee said most of the suspects were educated or unemployed Saudis and that very few expatriates were found committing this kind of violation.