1,000 arrested in Saudi Arabia during raid

More than 1,000 people who overstayed their visas have been arrested by the Saudi security forces in raids on 317 houses in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah. 37 people among detained with criminal records.

Several illegal cement manufacturing factories were also raided in Al-Bawadi, as well as brothels, illegal tailor shops and international phone centres and unlicenced restaurants. Illegal copies of CDs and DVDs were also seized.

Police have been stepping up their raids on illegal businesses, confiscating illegal merchandise and arresting those who sell it as Saudi Arabia moves closer to achieving full membership of the World Trade Organisation.

Thousands of people have been arrested in similar raids this year. In June, police arrested 2,700 people who had stayed in the kingdom after their visas expired in other raids in Jeddah, following complaints from local residents about the rising crime in the area. Many have been repatriated, while many more are still awaiting deportation, the AKI reports.