RIYADH – Penalties including a maximum jail term of two years and fines up to SR100,000 will be levied on those who smuggle infiltrators into Makkah or give them shelter or any other help during the Haj season, authorities (Jawazat)announced on Monday. Culprits will be deported after serving their jail term in case of foreigners and their names will be published in local newspapers in addition to confiscating their vehicles, the Directorate General of Passports (Jawazat) said. It has also constituted administrative committees at checkpoints around Makkah to catch those who smuggle infiltrators or pilgrims without a Haj permit, and will take penal action against them, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The directorate said that those who transport any pilgrim without a Haj permit will be sent to jail for 15 days and a fine amounting to SR10,000 will be slapped on him. His vehicle will also be confiscated. In case of repeat violation, the violator will be given jail term of two months and a fine of SR25,000. The penalties will be increased to six months in jail and SR50,000 in fine in case of violation for the third time. In all cases, the vehicle will also be confiscated, and the violator will be deported if he is a foreigner after serving the jail term. The above penalties will be doubled in case of smuggling two illegal pilgrims and so on, the directorate said while urging the citizens and expatriates to strictly abide by the regulations.
