The Search and Follow-up Department at the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has arrested a gang of nine persons for selling visas in contravention of Law No 21 of 2015 that regulates the entry and exit of expatriates and their residency.
According to a report on the MoI website Saturday, the gang members were caught along with documents while they were trying to sell a visa to a person sent by the department.
The arrested men are of African and Asian nationalities.
Brigadier Abdullah Jaber al-Labdah, director of the Search and Follow-up Department, said inspections are carried out by the department across the country to find catch people who sell visas using fake companies.
Captain Omar Khalifa al-Rumaihi, head of the Search and Investigation Department, said the gang was busted after getting information that some people were posting about visa trade on social media and promoting the same.
"After confirming the authenticity of the information, the gang members were kept under watch and a warrant was issued by the Public Prosecution to arrest the accused. The gang was caught red-handed as the members tried to sell a visa for cash to a person sent by the authorities. The team from the department arrested all the accused and seized stamps, identity cards, bank cards and cash from them. The accused were referred to the prosecution to complete legal procedures,” he said.
The department has urged people not to deal with fleeing workers or employ them, stressing that the administration is conducting inspections to catch all violators.
The officials have also urged company owners not to give their IDs to unidentified people or authorise people who could not be trusted for the official work of the company. Further, he asked companies to report immediately about fleeing workers with all available information.
The arrested men are of African and Asian nationalities.
Brigadier Abdullah Jaber al-Labdah
Captain Omar Khalifa al-Rumaihi
Captain Omar Khalifa al-Rumaihi
Brigadier Abdullah Jaber al-Labdah, director of the Search and Follow-up Department, said inspections are carried out by the department across the country to find catch people who sell visas using fake companies.
Captain Omar Khalifa al-Rumaihi, head of the Search and Investigation Department, said the gang was busted after getting information that some people were posting about visa trade on social media and promoting the same.
"After confirming the authenticity of the information, the gang members were kept under watch and a warrant was issued by the Public Prosecution to arrest the accused. The gang was caught red-handed as the members tried to sell a visa for cash to a person sent by the authorities. The team from the department arrested all the accused and seized stamps, identity cards, bank cards and cash from them. The accused were referred to the prosecution to complete legal procedures,” he said.
The department has urged people not to deal with fleeing workers or employ them, stressing that the administration is conducting inspections to catch all violators.
The officials have also urged company owners not to give their IDs to unidentified people or authorise people who could not be trusted for the official work of the company. Further, he asked companies to report immediately about fleeing workers with all available information.
