Amid efforts to ensure that only legitimate domestic pilgrims perform Haj this year, security forces have launched a balloon system to track illegal pilgrims attempting to enter Makkah, particularly through unfrequented roads.
“Special cameras installed on a balloon launched with the help of the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology instantly beam all movements on roads including dirt roads to a control room of the road security forces. Instantly, patrols are sent to ensure that the people who proceed on dirt roads that lead to Makkah and the holy sites are carrying Haj permits,” Maj. Gen. Khaled Al-Qahtani, commander of the special forces, said in a statement to Al-Eqtisadiah business daily yesterday.
He added that the special forces had intercepted 1,174 vehicles including buses carrying 7,500 pilgrims without tasreeh (Haj permit) before entering the holy sites over the past month. The arrested people were returned to their place of origin and the vehicles seized.
The balloon cameras also help monitor traffic congestion on expressways, and take immediate steps to normalize vehicle flow on roads leading to Makkah, he added.
He said four buses seized at checkpoints in Sayel and Taneim were operated by fake domestic Haj service companies. The special forces in collaboration with the traffic department and Transport Ministry also stopped 786 cars smuggling pilgrims to Makkah in other provinces.
He said special plans are in place to monitor road networks and ensure a high level of traffic safety in the Kingdom.
The officer called on all drivers to undertake maintenance work of their cars, especially engines and tires, besides adhering to traffic regulations. He pointed out that recent accident statistics showed that incidents of flat tires and speeding were the two major factors that caused accidents in the Kingdom. “A driver should realize his responsibility not to endanger the lives and property of other road users with illegal and negligent behavior,” he said.
Stressing the importance of advanced technology in maintaining security on roads, the officer said, digital cameras had been installed at a number of locations close to the entry to Makkah besides conducting patrols that monitor and pass information to control rooms day and night.
He said the Road Safety Department also offered special assistance to Haj convoys in particular and ordinary passengers in general on highways across the country. It receives calls for assistance on 996.
In a related development, commander at the Shumaisy checkpoint on the Jeddah-Makkah Expressway Maj. Miqad Al-Sobaei said checkpoints make extra efforts to make sure that no illegal pilgrim travels to Makkah or the holy sites on roads, including the many dirt roads.
“No case of pilgrim-smuggling has been detected on the Jeddah-Makkah Expressway so far. All the dirt roads that were used in the past to smuggle pilgrims in are put under strict surveillance. Helicopters and Mujahideen patrols also are participating in tracking operations,” he said, adding that security forces discovered 70 dirt roads and secret paths used by pilgrim smugglers last year.
He affirmed that no pilgrim without tasreeh would under any condition be able to infiltrate to locations of Haj this year, and any driver caught colluding with illegal pilgrims would be punished with a huge fine and other penal measures.
Balloons track illegal pilgrims
