As many as 355 persons were rounded up by the Interior Ministry personnel last week for violating laws pertaining to the entry and residency of foreigners in the UAE. The arrests include illegal immigrants.

Those arrested include 166 in Abu Dhabi, 96 in Al Ain, 53 in Ajman and 40 in Ras Al Khaimah.

The law violators and foreigners follow up section in Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with the strategy section for preventing crime at the Abu Dhabi Police have launched inspection visits and crackdowns at several places.

The campaign resulted in the arrest of 166 persons in the capital, including 116 men and 50 African and Asian women,

In Al Ain, the police raided the two places (Al Ain Market and Zakhir areas), and apprehended 96 people who were not carrying identification papers.

Those included 53 infiltrators (illegal immigrants), 24 violating the foreigners entry an residence law, 14 absconding from sponsors and five other persons found working with employers other than their lawful sponsors.

The arrests were referred to the Public Prosecution for legal action. In Ajman, a committee formed by the Ajman Police, the General Department for Residency and Foreigners Affairs and Law Violators and Follow Up Section, launched a wide-scale campaign on 15 locations resulting in the arrest of 53 law violators including 50 housemaids and three Asian persons found to have been absconding from sponsors. Legal action has been taken against them.

In Ras Al Khaimah, the law violators and foreigners follow up section conducted 13 joint inspection campaigns in collaboration with the inspectors of the Labour Ministry in the emirate and arrested 40 persons found breaching the law. Of this, 21 women were found working with other employers and 19 were absconding from their lawful sponsors. The arrested are Asians and Africans. Major General Nasser bin Al Awadhi Al Minhali, Assistant Undersecretary, Ministry of Interior for Naturalisation, Residency and Exits said the campaigns are part of the efforts of the department to curb the influx of infiltrators and violators of residency law.

“The campaigns will continue in every nook and corner of the country including residential areas,” he said, and praised the efforts of the personnel involved in implementing them.

The cooperation among the teams had made the crackdowns a success he said, adding that all law violators who were arrested will be referred to the bodies concerned for legal action.

Major General Minhali called on the public, Emiratis and expatriates, to report such law violations, and warned those who bring in, hire and shelter illegal immigrants and law violators.

He urged the public to call on the phone service ‘Sahim 80080’ in case of spotting such violation.