ABU DHABI // More than 130 people were arrested last week for entering the country illegally, Ministry of Interior officials have said.
Of the 138 people in custody, 108 were detained in Abu Dhabi and 30 in Ajman for violation of entry and foreign residence rules.
The ministry's violations and foreign affairs department, in cooperation with the criminal section, carried out raids at different locations.
Based on a tip-off that illegal residents were living in Mussaffah, police arrested 108 people from Asian and African countries. Of the 30 arrested in Ajman, 28 were housemaids.
Maj Gen Nasser Al Awadi Al Menhali, assistant undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Naturalisation, Residency and Ports Affairs, said campaigns to arrest illegal residents were carried out from time to time across the country.
"These inspections will continue and we would put more emphasis on such campaigns in different parts of the country to nab entry and residency rules violators," he added.
Maj Gen Al Menhali urged all members of society to inform the authorities and the police about offenders.
He also warned that those who help bring illegal immigrants into the UAE, and those who shelter them, pose a danger to the security and safety of society.