Saudi: 71 Arrests, 16.5 Million Narcotic Pills Seized in 5 Days
In a coordinated five-day operation across Saudi Arabia, security authorities working with relevant government agencies arrested 71 individuals and seized approximately 16.9 million narcotic pills. The operation targeted individuals involved in drug smuggling, sales, possession, and consumption.
The raids were conducted from Tuesday, April 25 until Saturday, April 29 immediately after the Eid Al-Fitr holidays in various regions and governorates across the Kingdom. The raids led to the seizure of about 16.9 million narcotic amphetamine and Captagon tablets from 17 regions and governorates, at a rate of more than 3.3 million narcotic tablets per day.
On the first day of the campaign on April 25, the security authorities foiled an attempt to smuggle in 12,729,000 the narcotic amphetamine tablets at the Jeddah Islamic Port. Two Egyptians and one Syrian and Yemeni national each were arrested during the raid carried out in coordination with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority.
Two Ethiopians were arrested while attempting to smuggle in hashish in the southern Asir region while Two Pakistanis were arrested in Jeddah while trading narcotic methamphetamine pills.
The General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) urged the public to report any suspicious activities or incidents of drug smuggling or sale through contacting the directorate’s toll free number 995, or via e-mail: 995gdnc.gov.sa, saying that all reports will be dealt within strict confidentiality.
