It might have been the destiny of this country in the past to bear many consequences due to the existence of the two holy mosques on its soil. Large numbers of Muslims used to come for Haj or Umrah every year. There was no problem then in turning a blind eye to those who insisted on staying, though sometimes illegally, because their objectives were simple and pure: They wanted to stay either in Makkah or Madinah. The population of the Kingdom was little and there were no serious issues like what the world is witnessing now. Now the situation has changed. Thousands of people try to reach the Kingdom legally but they disappear in thin air after their arrival. A bigger problem is the infiltrators who break the law in daylight and sometimes with the help of some citizens who have no conscience. These people have different intentions than the ones who came only to stay near the two holy mosques. They bring with them all forms of vices and destructive corruption. They do not shy away from trading in everything that is illegal. It is a known fact that the Kingdom has become one of the biggest markets targeted by drug dealers. This is evident by the large quantities of narcotics found many times with infiltrators who come through the southern borders. These infiltrators have assisted a number of criminals to smuggle arms and ammunition into the Kingdom. The infiltrators also include criminal gangs who are involved in child trafficking. They kidnap children and take them through fatal journeys to the Kingdom. The children either make it to the Kingdom or die on the way. This is a human tragedy. It is also a danger for us if we allow these gangs to continue their organized crimes. In the past we used to treat these infiltrators with mercy and compassion out of our consideration for financial or security conditions back home. This kind of treatment is no longer useful after the threat against us has increased. The committee ordered by the minister of interior to discuss the situation in the southern borders should deal with the problem with total firmness. It should analyze its causes with utmost clarity and transparency. The committee should make arrangements to ward off this danger to make it very clear to these criminals that our country will not be easily violated.
