Surprise raids during the Eid holidays have netted 76 illegal residents, majority of them working as butchers, in Dubai.

The Department of Markets at the Dubai Municipality nabbed 55 men who worked as unlicensed butchers, 14 porters, four beggars and three vendors, Mohammed Rafik, who supervised the campaign said.

He said the inspector who led the campaign confiscated knives and other implements from thos who worked as butchers. A large quantity of food items seized from them was later destroyed.

The eight raids conducted during the three days of Eid from Monday to Thursday  was conducted with the cooperation of Ministry of Labour, Al Qusais police station and the immigration authorities.

The campaign focused on areas around livestock markets where these illegal butchers and workers usually hang around during Eid holidays.

Inspectors also focused at regular Eid gatherings near mosques where illegal residents beg for alms.

The violators of the country’s residency laws are referred to the local police station where they are photographed and fingerprinted before being penalised for their act. They will be eventually deported to their native countries.

The official said infiltrators will be banned from entering the country for life. However other violators of residency laws, like those who overstay or abscond from sponsors, are usually banned for two years.