Synopsis: Authorities intensify action against cyber-fraud and human trafficking, with nationals from 87 countries among those removed from the Kingdom.

The Kingdom deported 52,039 foreign nationals from 87 countries during the first nine months of this year, including 18,389 linked to online scam offences, as authorities intensified efforts to combat transnational crime and improve the identification of human trafficking victims.

According to the Ministry of Interior’s General Department of Immigration, authorities conducted 3,104 operations between January and September to detain and deport foreigners found to have violated the Kingdom’s laws.

The total represented an increase of 41,685, or 402.59%, compared with the same period last year.

Chinese nationals accounted for the largest group, with 22,926 deportations, followed by Indonesians with 8,166, Vietnamese with 4,096, Bangladeshis with 3,051 and Pakistanis with 2,522.

Other major groups were Myanma (1,952), Thai (1,546), Indian (1,360), Ugandan (1,111) and Filipino (945). The remaining deportees came from dozens of other countries and territories.

Among those deported, 18,389 from 38 nationalities were linked to online scam activities, underscoring the international nature of technology-related crime.

The department reported that the Kingdom had deported a cumulative 100,806 foreign nationals from 113 countries for immigration violations between 2014 and September 30.

Authorities released 286 foreign nationals, including 43 women from 21 countries, after they completed prison sentences during the first nine months of this year. Chinese nationals accounted for 140 of those released, followed by 89 Vietnamese nationals.

The immigration department reported rescuing 426 foreign nationals from 13 countries in 190 cases after receiving requests for assistance through online complaints. The largest groups included 76 Chinese, 72 Filipinos, 65 Vietnamese, 64 Indians and 61 Indonesians.