The Passport Department has established two centers to deal with the processing of punitive charges against Haj violators without any further delay, announced Maj. Gen. Ayad Loqman Al-Harbi, commander of Haj forces in the Passport Department.

Addressing a press conference on Friday evening here, Al-Harbi said the Passport Department has established a center each in Taif and Shamaisy to deal firmly with the Haj violators, including smugglers of illegal pilgrims.

“All violators caught by security forces are being referred to these two centers where punitive actions are processed. These two centers are working 24x7 to avoid any scope of delay.”

The commander said Saudi citizens and others charged with smuggling pilgrims are being fined SR10,000 per pilgrim and will be referred to courts for further punishment.

He added that expatriates caught in violation will be deported and barred for returning to the Kingdom for at least 10 years.

Al-Harbi said that the electronic system is being effectively used by the Passport Department to curb and prevent any infiltration in Makkah as part of the drive by the Ministry of Interior.

He said that 1,169,977 pilgrims had arrived in the Kingdom until Friday afternoon, the majority of them at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah and Jeddah Islamic Port.

Al-Harbi explained that 1,102,069 pilgrims arrived by air, 54,300 by road and 13,608 by sea as on Friday.

He said 232 pilgrims, including citizens and expatriates from GCC countries, were arrested by the Passport Department for having forged Haj permits.

So far, he added, 21 smugglers caught inside the Kingdom were penalized up to SR 860,000 by passport authorities.

He urged all expatriates and Saudi citizens to comply with regulations and perform a violation-free Haj.