Saudi Arabia’s Special Forces for Environmental Security (SPES) have arrested five expatriates for illegally excavating and transporting soil in the Eastern Province, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday. The suspects — nationals of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Yemen — were apprehended along with four pieces of excavation and transport equipment. They face charges under the Kingdom’s Environmental Law, and legal proceedings have been initiated.
The arrests form part of a broader enforcement campaign by the SPES to safeguard natural resources, vegetation, and wildlife from environmental degradation. In recent weeks, the forces have intensified operations targeting a range of violations, including the illegal transport of local firewood, unauthorized entry into protected reserves, soil pollution, and breaches of camping and fire-safety regulations.
On October 28, SPES officers detained a citizen for transporting two cubic meters of local firewood inside the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve. The seized firewood was handed to the relevant authorities. Transporting local firewood or charcoal carries a fine of up to SR16,000 per cubic meter.
On the same day, four citizens were arrested for entering the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve without permits. Unauthorized entry into protected areas is punishable by a fine of SR5,000.
On October 25, a citizen was apprehended for lighting a fire in an undesignated area within the Imam Faisal bin Turki Royal Reserve, violating regulations designed to protect vegetation cover. The offense carries a fine of up to SR3,000.
Two days later, on October 27, another citizen was caught camping without a permit in a forest area in the Asir region, an offense also subject to a fine of up to SR3,000.
The campaign has also targeted activities that directly damage soil and natural resources. On October 9, a Sudanese resident in the Eastern Province was arrested for dumping concrete materials and polluting the soil. Activities that damage or pollute soil, impair its use, or destroy its natural properties can incur fines of up to SR10 million.
The latest arrests underscore the authorities’ commitment to preventing the unauthorized extraction of natural deposits, which threatens land integrity and environmental sustainability. Saudi Arabia has implemented a suite of environmental protection measures aimed at preserving natural resources, expanding protected areas, and enhancing compliance under its broader sustainability goals.
The SPES has called on residents and citizens to report environmental and wildlife violations, assuring that all reports will be treated confidentially and that whistleblowers bear no liability. Reports can be made by calling 911 in the Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and Eastern Province regions, and 999 or 996 in other parts of the Kingdom. Public cooperation is regarded as a vital component of efforts to protect the environment and ensure adherence to environmental regulations.