A Mujahideen Security Force task arrested 76 illegal pilgrims Tuesday who were trying to sneak into Makkah without Haj permits. Makkah Mujahideen patrols stopped 10 SUVs, including ones with Jordanian plate numbers, after a hot pursuit on the dirt roads leading to Makkah, said Muhammad Nofaie, chief of Makkah Mujahdieen Security Force. The smugglers and their cargo of illegal pilgrims were handed over to authorities for further investigation. If convicted, the smugglers face a fine ranging between SR2,000 and SR10,000 for each smuggled pilgrim depending on the frequency of the offense, said Col. Ayed Al-Lugmani, chief of Makkah Passports Department. Smuggling of pilgrims without permits is a seasonal occurrence during the Haj season. Nofaie said that in some cases, illegal pilgrims got off the vehicles near security checkpoints, walked around the side of the checkpoints and then got picked up again by their smugglers.
