Saudi Arabia has used advanced technology, such as drones and artificial intelligence, to increase its crackdown on illegal Hajj pilgrims, Gulf News reported. The move is designed to enhance surveillance and enforcement before this year’s Islamic pilgrimage.
Footage from the Kingdom’s General Directorate of Public Security showed drones carrying high-resolution cameras tracing out people and vehicles suspected of trying to gain access to the holy sites without permits.
For example, a drone spotted a suspicious car in an isolated desert location and sent its coordinates to ground patrols, who rapidly took the suspects into custody.
Such drones are components of advanced surveillance system with artificial intelligence and thermal imaging capabilities that allow authorities to spot and intercept offenders in real time.
The campaign, called “No Hajj Without a Permit,” is at the heart of the government’s drive to control the pilgrimage and guarantee the safety of all pilgrims.
A number of people have been detained over the past few days for smuggling illegal pilgrims. The Ministry of Interior has stated that special summer committees have imposed administrative sanctions, such as jail time, fines of up to SR100,000 per offender, deportation of expatriates upon completion of their sentence, a 10-year ban on re-entry, and seizure of vehicles used in these infringements by the judiciary.
The ministry once again emphasized that undertaking Hajj involves using a particular Hajj visa. People using visit visas are strictly forbidden from making the pilgrimage. Pilgrims abroad need to acquire Hajj visas through their individual Hajj Affairs offices in 80 nations or through the Nusuk Hajj platform, which accepts applications from 126 countries.
Besides, the Ministry has also issued fines of as much as SR20,000 for anyone found conducting or attempting to conduct Hajj without the proper authorization.
