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Thousands held in major crackdown

“The campaign started on February 1, and will continue throughout the year. The message is clear: we do not want illegal residents to stay”, Brigadier Khamis Al Mazainah, the CID chief in Dubai, told a Press conference at his office yesterday.

The official said 2,855 people — men and women — were caught in the period from February 1 to 15. He said 359 of them were accused of staying illegally in the country (after the expiry of their entry permits), and 154 were found of absconding from their lawful sponsors and working illegally with other employers in violation of the laws and regulations of the UAE. Over 90 per cent of those arrested were Asians.

Brig. Mazainah declined to disclose the nature of CID operations to stem the phenomenon of illegal residents, but said plans were mapped out by the department to make a difference in this current campaign, with coincides with the National Security Awareness Campaign 2005 launched all over the UAE. The official said illegal residents could pose a danger to the security of the country, and efforts by the CID were essential to protect national interests. He said the crackdown would continue throughout the year and would not be restricted by a definite time-frame. He said this was an important element to maintain the momentum.

Brig. Mazainah warned nationals and expatriates against hiring illegal residents or aliens who sneaked illegally into the UAE, saying this violation carries penalties in accordance with the country’s labour law. Violations of labour and residency laws have been common, and police are stepping up their operations to help labour and immigration authorities. Recent police reports showed that individuals involved in immoral activities were also violators of the residency laws of the UAE, and many arrested on charges of vice were referred to the Immigration and Residency Administration and labour inspection authorities for a follow-up of their cases.

Top officials had been working to chalk out new strategies to combat crime and protect the values of society. Orders were given to police planners to set in motion new strategies to reduce crime rates. At a recent seminar, particular stress was laid on launching regular awareness campaigns by the police to educate the public on various phenomena and protect society against crime and criminals.

Brig. Mazainah said: “It is a serious effort to help put an end to the problem of illegal residents, which poses a danger to security. We have been working on enhancing preventive approaches, and at the same time upgrading investigation methods to unravel the mysteries of criminal activities and seeking to arrest criminals.” Police officials said the campaign was being carried out at various timings and expected it to be a successful effort soon.

• UAE