Muscat: Almost 400 individuals were caught trying to enter the country illegally during the month of July, according to a report by the Royal Oman Police.
“The Royal Oman Police arrested 368 male and female infiltrators from Asian and African nationalities. 100 arrests were made in Al Buraimi, 66 in North Batinah, 49 in South Batinah, 28 in Muscat and 22 in Dhofar,” the ROP stated.
11 infiltrators were arrested in South Sharqiyah, 10 in the Al Wusta region, seven in both Musandam and Ad Dakhalia, two in North Sharqiyah and one in Al Dhahirah. The Royal Army of Oman also arrested 65 infiltrators.
During the same month, the Royal Oman Police deported 296 infiltrators, including 92 women, pursuant to the provisions of the judicial authorities that ordered them to be expelled from the Sultanate illegally.
The Royal Oman Police confirms its continued efforts in cooperation with the security and military authorities to reduce infiltration by intensifying maritime, air and land patrols, coordinating with neighboring countries to exchange information, and raising awareness among the community about the dangers of operating or harboring violators and how to deal with them.
“The Royal Oman Police are grateful to citizens and residents for their role in combating infiltration and their contribution to the arrests of violators regarding labor and residence laws by immediately reporting suspected foreign workers to the Police Operations Center,” the report read.
In the month of May, the Royal Oman Police arrested 222 people trying to enter the Sultanate and deported 272 infiltrators.
During the last two years, the number of infiltrators has significantly declined according to the Director of Anti-Infiltration Department at the Directorate General of Operation of the Royal Oman Police (ROP).
During the first quarter of 2016, 858 infiltrators were arrested compared to 1039 infiltrators during 2015 and 4884 infiltrators during 2014.