Police arrest 720 illegal residents

SHARJAH // Police have arrested more than 700 illegal residents during the first week of April, officials said yesterday.

The arrests were made as part of Sharjah Police's year-long campaign to arrest illegal residents who have either run away from their sponsors or overstayed their work visa.

A total of 720 people were arrested in the city's industrial areas. Brig Abdullah Mubarak Al Dukhan, the deputy director of Sharjah Police, said that the majority of illegal residents had no choice but to sell counterfeit goods.

"The people we arrested were living in abandoned buildings, workshops, dilapidated houses and sites that were under construction.

"We are taking strict action against such offenders of the residency rule because they are threatening the security of our society, and are most likely to carry out crimes," he said.

Brig Al Dukhan urged the public to cooperate with the police and provide information about illegal residents to the Najeed service at 800151, SMS to 7999, fax to 06-5529000, email najeed@shjpolice.gov.ae or visit the website: shjpolice.gov.ae/najeed.

ykakande@thenational.ae