Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has announced strict legal action against 19 individuals, including five expatriates and 14 citizens, after they were caught transporting 29 unauthorized individuals into the holy sites without official Hajj permits.
Authorities confirmed that penalties imposed on the violators include fines of up to SR100,000, confiscation of vehicles used in the violations, and public naming in accordance with Saudi regulations.
The ministry also imposed fines of up to SR20,000 on individuals attempting to perform Hajj without permits. Expatriate violators face additional penalties including immediate deportation and a 10-year ban from re-entering the Kingdom.
The measures are part of a broader security campaign launched more than a month ago involving multiple security agencies, including Makkah Region Police and the General Administration of Mujahideen, aimed at combating smuggling and fraudulent activities linked to the Hajj season.
Recent enforcement operations have also targeted individuals involved in forging Hajj wristbands, Nusuk cards, and residency permits, in addition to cracking down on fake Hajj service advertisements circulated through social media platforms.
Authorities further revealed that some offenders attempted to smuggle individuals into Makkah through unpaved roads and remote desert routes in an effort to bypass official Hajj regulations.
The General Directorate of Public Security emphasized that these measures are essential to ensuring the safety and security of authorized pilgrims and maintaining the smooth organization of the Hajj season.
Security authorities also urged the public to report any suspected violations or suspicious activities through the unified emergency number 911 in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 in other regions across the Kingdom.
