Saudi: Authorities Bust Khat Smuggling Operation in Jazan
Saudi border guards in the Jazan region have foiled attempts to smuggle 140kg of the narcotic khat. The seized narcotics were handed over to the competent authority, and preliminary legal procedures were completed, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
Khat is a flowering shrub native to the Arabian Peninsula. Individuals chew khat leaves because of the stimulant effects it has, which are less intense than those caused by abusing cocaine or methamphetamine.
Saudi authorities had previous successes in their anti-drug smuggling campaign, with their latest reported one a bust on an attempt to smuggle up to $11.5 million worth of Captagon pills stashed in consignments which arrived at Duba port.
More than 460,000 Captagon pills were hidden in the cavities of heavy machinery, but were discovered during a security check, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority said in a statement. Security authorities have urged people to report any activities related to drug smuggling or promotion by calling 911 in the Makkah, Riyadh and Eastern Province regions, and 999 in the rest of the Kingdom’s regions.
