Hajj security operations: 436 unauthorized groups intercepted, 462 transporters apprehended

Arab News

8 hours ago

RIYADH: Saudi authorities have intercepted 436 illegal Hajj groups and apprehended 462 transport violators facilitating unauthorized entry into Makkah, according to the Ministry of Interior.
Col. Talal bin Shalhoub, security spokesperson for the ministry, said at a press conference in Makkah: 'Since Dul Hijjah 11, we've maintained continuous operations removing Hajj regulation violators from Makkah, particularly those holding visit visas in violation of their entry permits.'
Shalhoub said that authorities were continuously removing visa violators from Makkah, with transport offenders captured at city entry points during smuggling attempts of residents, citizens and illegal visa holders.
'Our pilgrims returned to Mina this morning after completing Tawaf Al-Ifadah and Jamarat stoning rituals within a fully secured environment,' he said.
Security forces continue managing crowd flows between Mina camps, Jamarat and the Grand Mosque while 'enforcing movement schedules through Dul Hijjah 14,' he said.
'We urge all pilgrims to strictly follow designated schedules for Rami, Tawaf and Sa'i, use assigned routes for luggage transport, and maintain calm during movements,' Shalhoub said.
He advised those leaving early on the second Tashreeq day to remain in camps until their service coordinators' scheduled departure time.
Ghassan Al-Nwaimi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, said that the presidency had launched a new electronic service through its website, allowing those intending to perform rituals at the Grand Mosque to know the real-time crowd density levels in the Tawaf area, enabling them to choose the appropriate time to perform Tawaf or Sa'i.
'The Nusuk card has played a pivotal role in regulating and organizing pilgrim flows, with more than 5,500,000 electronic scans used so far,' he said.
Al-Nwaimi said that the Nusuk app and interactive mapping service helped to guide more than 35,000 pilgrims. More than 400,000 pilgrim bags were tracked using their QR codes, ensuring easy transport.
'On the front-of-field inspections, monitoring centers have conducted over 65,000 digital field rounds so far and these rounds support the delivery of various services while monitoring performance on the ground.'
He said that only 10 percent of cases required intervention by the specialized monitoring teams, reflecting the effectiveness of field-service delivery.
Khalid Al-Tala, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, said that there had been a 90 percent decrease in heat exhaustion cases during this year's Hajj season compared to the previous season.
'Despite high temperatures, only a limited number of heat exhaustion cases were handled — 362 cases so far — all managed with high efficiency until they recovered,' he said.
'Comprehensive health services exceeded 125,000,' and there were 18 open-heart surgeries and 216 cardiac catheterization procedures conducted, he said.
Saleh Al-Zuwaid, spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services, detailed Hajj transportation achievements.
He said that 'the fifth pilgrim movement phase launched precisely at 9 a.m. on Eid Al-Adha,' connecting Arafat, Muzdalifah and Jamarat sites. This critical operation would 'continue through sunset on the 13th of Dul Hijjah.'
Al-Zuwaid reported that 'the Mashaer train has transported more than 1 million passengers between holy sites with complete operational ease to date.'
Makkah's bus network spanned 430 stations across 12 routes — including four central stations serving the Grand Mosque — with an additional 25 citywide stops, he said.
'We officially announce transport and logistics readiness for pilgrim departure,' Al-Zuwaid said, confirming six dedicated airports were prepared to handle 'all Guests of the Most Merciful, whether domestic or international pilgrims.'