Saudi Authorities Foil Major Drug Smuggling Attempts
Saudi authorities have apprehended multiple individuals and confiscated substantial amounts of drugs in operations carried out across the Kingdom.
On Saturday, Saudi officials thwarted an attempt to smuggle more than 6 million Captagon tablets into the country in an operation carried out in cooperation with the Omani police and the Saudi Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority.
Marwan Al-Hazmi, the spokesperson for the General Directorate of Narcotics Control, said that a total of 6,072,291 amphetamine pills were found hidden in a shipment of sweets, citrus fruit, and nuts.
Al-Hazmi added that the smugglers, a Saudi national and a Syrian, have been arrested.
In Jazan, the Border Guard successfully foiled four separate attempts to smuggle a total of 1,155 kg of qat into the Kingdom.
Police in Hail have arrested two citizens for attempting to smuggle the methamphetamine shabu. The individuals were also found in possession of live ammunition.
In Riyadh, the Criminal Investigation and Research Department captured five citizens who were using three houses as illicit distribution centres. In addition to the arrests, authorities also confiscated drugs, a firearm, a cold weapon, and “significant amounts” of money.
The centre’s branch in the Qassim region arrested a Yemeni resident involved in the smuggling of qat and confiscated money found in his possession.
The General Directorate of Narcotics Control in Jouf also arrested three citizens for smuggling “tablets that fall under the medical circulation regulation.”
Preliminary legal procedures against all the individuals involved have been completed and all seized narcotics handed over to the authorities. All those arrested have been referred to the Public Prosecution.
Members of the public can report suspected smuggling or other violations in strict confidence via email — 1910@zatca.gov.sa — or through the designated number for security reports, 1910 from within the country or +966114208417 from overseas. A financial reward is offered if the information leads to the discovery of a crime.
