JEDDAH, 27 April 2006 — Police arrested more than 1,200 people, mostly of them on charges of residing in the Kingdom illegally, in crime sweeps in various parts of Jeddah on Tuesday night. A few hardcore criminals wanted by police were also arrested.
“Five of the arrested were involved in criminal offenses, and three were wanted by the police on criminal charges. The others did not have iqamas or other documents to justify their presence in the Kingdom,” a reliable police source told Arab News.
The raids took place in Ghulail, Aziziah, Al-Rawdah and Rabwa districts. Security men disconnected electricity supply to 15 buildings because they were rented out to illegals.
“We are determined to do away with crime and flush out the illegals. We have chalked out foolproof plans to arrest anyone taking refuge in secret places on the illusion that the hands of law will never reach them. We will deport all those who do not carry valid documents of residence and those who flee from their legal work places,” the source said.
The police apprehended a number of men and women who ran a whorehouse in Al-Rawdah. The suspects were handed over to the concerned agencies for further action.
The arrested people were subjected to thorough medical checkups to find out if they were carriers of HIV or suffered from other communicable diseases. Drug pushers and liquor addicts were among the detainees, the source said.
It added that the campaign against the illegal residents would continue and building owners who rent to undocumented residents would be prosecuted.
