Police officers will conduct random fingerprinting on pilgrims in Makkah and the holy sites to identify pilgrims without Haj permits, according to a top official.

Gen. Masoud Faisal Al-Adwani, assistant commander of the Haj security forces for the management and organization of pedestrians, said violators would be punished after the season ends.

Both foreigners and citizens will be subjected to these inspections, he said.

“The plan is to take violating pilgrims by surprise,” said Al-Adwani.

The Ministry of Haj and the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) have installed electronic surveillance and data systems in vehicles that would allow police officers to check pilgrims’ biometric information. These systems are linked to servers at the Ministry of Interior.

These vehicles would be stationed at checkpoints on the way to Makkah, said Abdul Qadir Ghiberti, chairman of the Haj Committee at the JCCI.

Expatriate pilgrims caught without permits will be deported and banned from entering the Kingdom for 10 years.

Al-Adwani said illegal Haj pilgrims place pressure on officials at the holy sites, particularly health and emergency personnel.

They also “endanger their own lives because they could get run over by cars or fall victim to pickpockets.”

Al-Adwani said: “We are very optimistic that these measures in the field will eliminate a large proportion of violators.”

Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal has meanwhile applied for a Haj permit as part of the Saudi government’s awareness campaign.

A picture showing him with the permit has been released to the media.

The government has warned of tough action against those transporting illegal pilgrims.