JEDDAH: Maj. Gen. Saad bin Abdullah Al-Khelaiwi, assistant commander of Haj Security Forces for Pedestrian Management and Organization, said that orders have been issued to the directorates and sectors of public security across the country to intensify field operations to monitor the movement of transports carrying internal pilgrims.

The orders were issued with the aim to prevent fake Haj offices and unauthorized campaigns and brokers inside cities from circumventing the regulations with suspicious practices and violations that deceive pilgrims.

He said, "The steps have been taken under instructions from the government of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, his crown prince, deputy crown prince and second deputy premier and minister of interior."

The operation is undergoing under the direct supervision of the Higher Haj Committee chairman and the security director general, he said.

"This is designed to provide the best services for pilgrims and other guests of the Sacred House and to facilitate the performance of the holy rituals with peace and security," said Al-Khelaiwi.

A number of committees were formed across the towns and provinces of the Kingdom, while new checkpoints have been established at the exits of the roads leading to Makkah.

Additionally, an integrated security plan to control the transport operations of pilgrims is underway, which detects violators and infiltrators and refers them to the competent authorities to impose the statutory penalties, which could amount to imprisonment.

Al-Khelaiwi called on all citizens and residents wishing to perform Haj rituals this season to make sure of the regularity and legality of the Haj service providers they have signed contracts with on the website of the Ministry of Haj, and to inform police stations of any suspicious campaign so that the competent authorities can check and ensure the legal details of the campaign.