DAMMAM: The authorities concerned have taken appropriate measures to monitor illegal activities like smuggling of explosives and drugs on the King Fahd Causeway during the Eid Al-Fitr period.

Last year, the number of travelers who used the causeway was 220,000 and it is expected to cross the figure this time around.

The Customs Department said it would increase the number of patrols to identify any drugs, explosives or weapons.

“A state of high alert is required in order to meet the needs at ports and all work requirements efficiently,” said Eissa Al-Essa, spokesman of the Customs.

“We have increased the number of detection equipment, which are allocated based on the needs of each border passing,” he said.

Passport Directorate authorities at all the exits have are ready for the Eid season to ensure all procedures for travelers are completed as quickly as possible without jeopardizing security measures.

Maj. Gen. Faisal Hemeir Al-Bilaasi, director of Passports in the Eastern Province, has urged all the directors and heads of patrols to follow up on fieldwork and inform him immediately in case of obstacles or issues, as well as open all 32 counters to ensure travel procedures are completed quickly.

Spokesman of the Directorate in the Eastern Province Col. Moaella Marzouk Al-Otaibi urged travelers to ensure all documents are valid. “Travel is not permitted using the family ID, while young children and women must have their travel approvals ready if traveling alone,” he said. This approval can be obtained via the Absher online portal or via one of the Passport Directorate’s branches, which will be open during Eid Al-Fitr.

Eastern Province Gov. Prince Saud bin Nayef instructed the directorates to facilitate travel and urged all relevant government authorities on both the Saudi and Bahraini sides to cooperate.

The Bahraini Interior Ministry announced last year that 220,000 people from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states entered that country during the Eid Al-Fitr holidays, while 38,078 people arrived via Bahrain airport.

The King Fahd Causeway Authority said 19,749,449 people travelled in 2013, an average of 54,108 travellers daily.

The organization’s annual report reveals that 8,631,408 vehicles an trucks travel to and from Bahrain per year.