JEDDAH, 12 July — In a major crackdown in Makkah’s Mansoura district, security officers have arrested 176 foreigners for alleged involvement in various crimes. It was second such operation in the city in less than two weeks, press reports said yesterday.
According to Al-Madinah newspaper, about 500 officers of a rapid deployment force, the Civil Defense, Makkah security police, traffic police and the Saudi Red Crescent took part in the operation which started at 11.30 p.m. on Monday and continued till early morning.
Police seized about 3,000 looted items including cassette recorders, washing machines, air-conditioners and refrigerators, the Okaz newspaper said. They also seized pornographic videocassettes, fake stamps and materials used for practicing black magic. Contaminated chickens stored in refrigerators were also impounded.
During the raid, police discovered that overstayers had been running 30 unlicensed restaurants in the area. Al-Madinah said Monday’s raid also bared seven gambling joints and brothels.
Before storming the criminal hideouts, police had cordoned off the area and blocked all roads leading to the old district. Brig. Muhammad Al-Mulaihem, acting director of Makkah police, said no one was killed or injured in the confrontation.
Some 300 illegal immigrants were arrested in a similar operation on June 29. Al-Mulaihem said his officers would comb various Makkah districts to wipe out crime in the city. He urged Saudis and expatriates to cooperate with security officers by informing them about suspected criminal activities.
There are several dilapidated buildings in the Mansoura district providing a safe haven for the criminals. Most street lamps in the area are damaged allowing free movement to the gangsters during night.
A telephone cabin operator in the area said the gangsters use various ploys to avoid payment of bills. “They come after Maghreb prayers and continue their calls until midnight. They escape unnoticed without putting the handset back in its place, so that the operator will think they are carrying on with their telephone conversation,” he said.
According to Saudi Telecom Company there are 50,000 telephone lines and 2,700 wireless phones in Mansoura. Telephone bills of some of the clients go up as high as SR50,000, the company said.
About 29,000 families live in Mansoura. A number of Saudi residents have called on authorities to reorganize the district. One of the oldest residential areas in Makkah, the district is poorly maintained and cleanliness is virtually non-existent, they claimed and urged the municipality to banish street vendors who sell unhygienic food.
Maqbul Al-Osaimy, the district chief, said one of the major problems of his district was the presence of a large number of unemployed expatriates who roam about the area. He charged that some citizens protected them.
