RIYADH, May 5: A major campaign against criminals is currently under way in various parts of Saudi Arabia. Hundreds of people, mainly Asians of Pakistani and Indian origins and Africans, have been arrested in the sweep. Jeddah police and passports department staff raided hundreds of buildings in the Azizia district on Monday night and arrested over 1,000 people.

The crackdown is part of an anti-crime campaign that was launched last month in Riyadh and that began a fortnight ago in Jeddah. Two weeks ago, hundreds of illegal residents were arrested in Jeddah’s Karantina, Rabwa and Bawadi areas.

Monday’s Azizia raid netted 1,288 overstayers. Police said those arrested included thieves, drug dealers, sorcerers and prostitutes. The raids also uncovered warehouses for stolen goods, illegal distilleries and a brothel.