More than 70,000 pilgrims have been denied entry to Mecca for not having pilgrimage licences with 73 vehicles transporting them confiscated, local press in Mecca reported.

The vehicles’ drivers have been arrested while 61 cases of licence forgery have been found, said Commander of Passport Forces for Haj Brigadier Ayedh Al Harbi, Xinhua news agency quoted a news report as saying.    

Nine reception centres and five checkpoints have been set up at the entrances to Mecca to prohibit unlicensed pilgrims or anyone violating regulations from entering the city to perform the haj.

A total of 17 points to receive pilgrims arriving by air, sea and land are equipped with sufficient facilities to ease their entry, said Harbi.

- Bernama