The Search and Follow-up Department (SFD) of the Ministry of Interior is carrying out a large-scale inspection drive and night raids to eliminate the problem of absconding and illegal workers that affects negatively the security, economic and social aspects of the country.The drive, part of implementing Law No. 4/2009 on regulating entry, exit, residence and sponsorship of expatriates in the country, is carried out by the SFD in co-operation with Internal Security Force (Lakhwiya), Rescue Police (Al-Fazaa), Doha Municipality and Inspection Department of the Ministry of Labour.The director of the SFD Col. Nasser Mohamed al-Sayed said that the extensive campaign, which started in the beginning of April, will aim to capture all the workers who violate the residence law of the country. “As part of the drive, we raided many places where illegal workers are staying, with prior approval from Public Prosecution, and have taken legal procedures against them,” said Col al-Sayed. “A total number of 2,055 persons have been arrested till now. Out of them 270 were working on their own, 766 were working with someone other than their sponsors, 902 absconding employees, 55 with expired residence permits and 61 workers staying illegally in the country,” pointed out the SFD director.He also that the drive is being carried out in all parts of the country. “Those captured in the drive will be detained at the deportation wards of the department and they will be brought to the Public Prosecution after necessary investigations. In turn they will be referred to the concerned court, which is working in the department itself,” said al-Sayed stressing that the deportation wards are well arranged for decent living. He further mentioned that those captured will be either deported or released in sponsorship of new sponsors. The SFD director stated that the drive will continue until the issue of absconding and illegal workers is eliminated and the convicted companies and persons in these cases will be blacklisted and fined. They will not be able to recruit new employees. “The drive is going on round the clock and all areas of the country are covered. Starting from next month, the drive will cover house maids,” Col. al-Sayed said urging all the community members to co-operate with this drive to end this phenomenon.He further said that many companies and persons are ignorant about the seriousness of this issue and warned that the Qatari Residence Law states strict punishment for those violating the law. This phenomenon may cause the spread of diseases in the country as these workers do not use the medical services. The SFD director called upon the citizens and expatriates in the country not to co-operate with residence law violators and to contact the hotline number of 4469522 to report any such case. The service is available 24 hours a day in Arabic, English and Urdu.