Tunisian pilgrims show to the camera passports and flight tickets as they wait in Tunis airport, in this Oct. 7, 2013 file photo, after being stopped on their way to travel to Makkah on October 4 with fake Gambian passports.

Twenty foreign pilgrims were found with fake passports this year, according to the Passport Department.

Brig. Gen. Niyaf Al-Rowais, commander of Haj department, said the pilgrims were deported to their countries after their fingerprints were taken, a local publication reported.

Al-Rowais said the airport staff is specially trained to deal with these and other issues. There are also interpreters to assist in investigations and arrests.

He said there are 142 counters at the Haj and VIP lounges with state-of-the-art technolog, including computers, cameras and machines to record biometrics. Officials now spend about two minutes processing a passenger, he was quoted as saying.

He said work procedures clearing people to travel to the holy sites are in line with quality criteria required by the government.

Related articles across the web

• Security authorities seize 534 counterfeit Haj visas
• KCR condoles Makkah deaths, to help all T.S. pilgrim victims
• Haj stampede: 13 Indians among 310 killed, say unconfirmed reports
• Over 700 dead in Haj stampede near Mecca
• Haj safe from terror attacks - officials
• 4 Indians among 717 killed in Hajj stampede in Saudi Arabia
• Two from Hyderabad among Makkah tragedy victims
• Hurriyat hawk Geelani's passport suspended ahead of US visit
• At least 453 killed, 719 injured in Haj stampede at Mina
• Saudi Arabia says 220 pilgrims dead in Haj accident