JEDDAH, 26 July 2005 — Security forces cracked down on 400 houses and apprehended 1,700 illegal overstayers Sunday in various districts in Jeddah. The security forces started the massive raid in the early morning hours of Sunday and continued for over four hours; districts targeted were Al-Azizia, Al-Ruwais and Al-Faisaliah. The landlords of houses packed with overstayers have been called to the station and are currently being investigated about their illegal tenants.
According to security officials a number of overstayers apprehended during the raid have been identified as wanted suspects linked to a number of past crimes.
A police official said, “We caught 10 people wanted for various crimes.” A larger number are suspected of criminal wrongdoing; they are currently undergoing investigation.
Brig. Col. Misfer Al-Misahi, the head of Jeddah police, led a specially constituted security force, which was made up of 11 security and government sectors.
The raids caught a number of drug dealers, alcohol dealers and manufacturers.
A police official said, “After examining the alcoholic substance in the department lab, we found that the alcohol was mixed with other poisonous substances.”
Security forces also entered a number of brothels and found piles of counterfeit money and forged documents. Security forces have arrested thousands of overstayers during the past few months in weekly raids all over the country; the overstayers are then transferred to the passport department were they await deportation.
