Saudi Police Arrest More Suspects Over Forged Nusuk Cards, Hajj Wristbands
By Khadija Muhammad Zakari
The Saudi Arabian Police has arrested 18 more suspects in Makkah over the forgery of residency permits (iqamas), Nusuk cards and Hajj wristbands, in what appears to be a continuation of the Kingdom’s intensified crackdown on Hajj-related fraud and illegal pilgrimage activities.
Makkah Region Police arrested the suspects, who are residents of Pakistani and Afghan nationalities, for allegedly producing and using counterfeit documents and identification materials linked to the ongoing 2026 Hajj operations.
The police referred the suspects to the Public Prosecution after completing the required legal procedures.
The latest arrests come amid heightened security measures and stricter enforcement of Hajj regulations by Saudi authorities ahead of the peak pilgrimage period.
Saudi security agencies have in recent weeks intensified operations targeting individuals and groups involved in document forgery, illegal transportation of pilgrims and unauthorized access to the holy sites.
Authorities reiterated that Nusuk cards and official Hajj permits remain mandatory requirements for pilgrims participating in the annual pilgrimage, warning that violators would face prosecution and stiff penalties.
The General Directorate of Public Security urged citizens and residents to comply fully with Hajj regulations and instructions, while also encouraging the public to report violations through emergency numbers 911 in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and 999 in other parts of the Kingdom.
The Kingdom has continued to deploy extensive security and monitoring mechanisms to safeguard the integrity, safety and organization of the 2026 Hajj exercise.
