Some 27 Saudis and expatriates charged with transporting illegal pilgrims have been fined various amounts of money and jailed for six months, the Passports Department (Jawazat) has announced.

It said the expatriates will be deported after paying the fines and serving their jail terms. Some of the vehicles have also been confiscated.

The Jawazat also named and shamed the violators by publishing their names in local newspapers on Tuesday with the punishment clearly written against each name.

The Jazwazat said the sentences were upheld by Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Naif, deputy premier and minister of interior.

The total fine amounts to SR3.8 million, the maximum being SR675,000 and the minimum SR25,000.

The Saudi authorities sent home more than 170,000 violators who did not carry Haj permits this year. The government also runs a media campaign every year before the Haj season.

The campaign titled “Haj a worship and a civilized conduct” creates awareness about the rules and regulations related to Haj.

The campaign urges anyone intending to perform Haj to obtain a legal permit.

Residents are allowed to perform Haj once every five years.

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