SIXTY-SIX arrests have been made at the King Fahad Causeway in the first eight months of this year, it has been revealed.
These cases involved possessing prohibited items, attempting illegal entry or exit and producing illegal residency papers.
Causeway police directorate director Colonel Khalid Al Dossary also disclosed yesterday that a total of 18,240,256 travellers crossed the causeway from the beginning of the year to August 31.
“The directorate also helped ease the transit of pilgrim and tourist buses, especially during the travel season and the seasons of pilgrimage and Umrah,” he said in a statement.
“The number of cases and reports of arrests from the start of the year until August has been 66 which include cases of possession of prohibited items, illegal entry and exit from the country and illegal residence.
“The directorate receives many communications concerning a number of issues, such as illegal entry into and exit out of the country, illegal residence, in addition to assault, theft, as well as requests for roadside assistance and help with loss of identity cards or passports.”
Col Al Dossary underlined the efforts made by his office in combating crimes and strengthening the security of the causeway by taking the necessary measures.
Modern technology and security cameras have played an important part in ensuring the safety and security of the causeway, he said, adding that these helped reduce the crime rate by aiding in detecting the crimes and leading to the seizure of vehicles of the perpetrators.
Another major concern is facilitating the smooth movement of traffic as they go through the necessary procedures especially at Customs, passport control and residency checks, and opening more lanes to reduce traffic congestion.
The GDN reported last month that, according to latest statistics, a total of 24,835,795 passengers crossed the causeway last year, with a daily average of 70,160.
That represented an almost 78 per cent increase from the figures in 2006 which stood at 13,921,233 passengers, at an average of 38,140 passengers daily.
Meanwhile, Col Al Dossary urged travellers to follow proper security and safety procedures such as ensuring the validity of their passports as well as all official documents of the vehicle and insurance, in addition to making sure they have enough money for the journey plus an emergency amount in reserve.
The GDN previously reported that a total of 104 cases of forged documents were registered in 2011 and 77 in 2012. At the causeway, the number of forgeries was 131 between 2009 and 2012, with 23 cases being detected in 2009, 41 in 2010, 17 in 2011 and 50 in 2012.
A total of 355 drug seizures have been made in the first quarter of this year at land, air and sea entrances.
Full body scanners are now being installed at the airport and causeway to cut down on smuggling.
ghazi@gdn.com.bh
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