JEDDAH, 19 October 2005 — Security forces swooped down on Jeddah’s Al-Sabeel district in an early morning raid yesterday and rounded up 1,115 illegal overstayers and other criminals.
The operation was the third to be launched during Ramadan. Police shuttered illegal businesses, nabbed wanted outlaws and smashed a variety of criminal activities.
Security forces targeted 345 sites, including houses, warehouse and shops, during the four-hour Al-Sabeel dragnet, which snagged 14 wanted criminals through fingerprinting and medical examination of suspects.
A security officer told Arab News several open investigations have been closed and crimes solved during the operations.
Surveillance also snagged a Saudi man as he was burglarizing one of the targeted sites. “This isn’t the first such case, and we always check and recheck the open sites to assure all the properties are safe,” said officer.
An African woman was arrested for abetting dozens of overstayers by renting apartments for them with her legal status.
“Most of the African overstayers in this neighborhood were living in houses rented in her name,” another officer told Arab News.
A number of unlicensed warehouses, street grill stands and slaughterhouses were also closed yesterday. Police smashed a drug ring selling so-called aphrodisiac pills through sidewalk vendors.
“The pills are very dangerous,” an officer said. “Prescription drugs shouldn’t be bought from street sellers — they could be life-threatening.”
More than 220 Yemeni illegals were also arrested.
Security operations in Jeddah have been ongoing for more than 19 months. Brig. Misfer Al-Misahi, head of the Jeddah police, has been leading a strike force composed of 11 security and government sections.
A police spokesperson said the raids will continue and that crime fighting in Jeddah is a nonstop task.
