Police in the Saudi city of Mecca have arrested 18 Afghan and Pakistani nationals on allegations related to the forgery of residency permits, Nusuk cards, and Hajj wristbands.
According to the Saudi newspaper Al Bilad, the suspects were allegedly involved in criminal cases linked to the falsification of official Hajj-related documents.
Saudi authorities have intensified security and administrative measures ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, particularly targeting unauthorized access and fraudulent permit networks.
The Nusuk system and official Hajj identification procedures are part of Saudi Arabia’s broader effort to regulate pilgrim movement, manage crowd control, and maintain security during one of the world’s largest religious gatherings.
The arrests reflect continuing concerns among Saudi authorities over illegal documentation operations that attempt to bypass official pilgrimage regulations.
Such crackdowns have become increasingly frequent in recent years as Riyadh expands digital monitoring systems and enforcement mechanisms around Hajj administration.
The incident also highlights the growing intersection between migration, religious travel, and document fraud networks operating across regional borders.
