MAKKAH, 9 May 2007 — The Passport Department in Makkah arrested 18 Asian men who were illegally growing vegetables and fish at a 50-square meter farm in the outskirts of the city and selling them in the local market. The Asians were allegedly using sewage water to irrigate their farm.
They were also feeding the fish, which were bred in large bowls, with chemicals to make them grow quickly.
The Passport Department had received information about the illegal activities of the Asian men who were known to sell vegetables everyday at the Al-Kaakaya market and other districts of Makkah.
An investigation unit from the department conducted an inquiry to confirm the information and then a team of officials headed by Capt. Mansour Al-Otaibi, head of the Makkah branch of the Passport Department, raided the farm and arrested the men.
Capt. Ayed ibn Taghaleb Al-Lukmany, an official in the team, said, “Yesterday’s campaign has smashed a dangerous gang that was planting vegetables and breeding fish in an illegal and unhealthy way.”
