RIYADH: Saudi border guards arrested 3,322 infiltrators trying to enter the Kingdom in five regions in March, a 114 percent increase from February, local media reported.

The border area in Jazan accounted for 89 percent of infiltration attempts, or 2,954 foreigners, Al-Eqtisadiyah daily reported.

Najran was second with 356 foreigners, followed by the Eastern Province with 10, and Asir and Jouf with one each, the daily said, citing a report.

Border guards also foiled attempts by some infiltrators to plant land mines on the border.

Meanwhile, the General Directorate of Border Guard said it is shifting its border services to electronic and smart transactions in line with the highest security and quality standards, and in line with the concept of e-government.

The last quarter of 2017 will see the completion of the directorate’s e-services portal, which will represent the first stage in serving government and private sectors dealing with Saudi ports, providing them with e-services such as port entry permits, boarding passes and ship notifications.

The second stage of the portal will include e-services related to regular visitors by sea for hunting and picnic purposes, the directorate said.