ABHA, 27 March 2008 — Security forces in the southern Asir Region have arrested 5,310 overstayers and violators of residency regulations in two days, according to Col. Abdullah Al-Garni, spokesman for the Asir police. Speaking to Arab News, Al-Garni said the detainees included women and children of 15 nationalities. “Thirty-eight of them were involved in criminal activities, including drug trafficking.”
The arrests came following a massive drive against illegals on Saturday and Sunday, the spokesman said. He said a vast majority of the detainees were Yemenis (4,545), followed by Ethiopians (264) and Somalis (237). Police confiscated firearms and forgery equipment as well as a stolen car.
Another car, which the police were looking for in connection with a crime, was also seized. “Some of the arrested were involved in running brothels in the region,” Al-Garni said.
Referring to drug trafficking, he said security forces confiscated 1,400 bundles of qat being smuggled to Surat Abeeda. “They also seized a similar amount of qat being smuggled to Bisha,” he said, adding that a drug trafficker had been detained during the raid.
Police also raided a place used by illegals for manufacturing alcohol and another place used for selling liquor, Col. Al-Garni said. In the early morning raids on Sunday, about 3,000 security men, including passport department officers, took part.
“We have been carrying out these raids for the last five years at the rate of six every year,” Al-Garni said, adding that the latest raids took in 11 towns, including Abha, Khamis Mushayt, Bisha, Surat Abeeda and Namas.
Asir police chief Maj. Gen. Ali Al-Hazmi has emphasized the importance of these raids for cleaning the region of illegals involved in various criminal activities. He thanked Saudis for their cooperation with security officers who arrested the overstayers and criminals.
