Saudi authorities thwart attempt to smuggle massive Captagon stash hidden in sanitary products

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The drugs were found hidden in sanitary products. (General Directorate for Drug Control/Twitter)
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The drugs were found hidden in sanitary products. (General Directorate for Drug Control/Twitter)
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The drugs were found hidden in sanitary products. (General Directorate for Drug Control/Twitter)
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The drugs were found hidden in sanitary products. (General Directorate for Drug Control/Twitter)
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Updated 30 August 2023
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Saudi authorities thwart attempt to smuggle massive Captagon stash hidden in sanitary products

  • The nearly 4.7m stash has a street value of up to $117.325m

RIYADH: Saudi authorities have thwarted an attempt to smuggle nearly 4.7 million Captagon tablets into Jeddah port, the General Directorate of Narcotics Control said on Wednesday.

A Jordanian man was arrested following the discovery of the drugs that were concealed in two shipments of sanitary products.

 

 

The drugs haul had an estimated street value of approximately $46.930 m to $117.325 m according to research published in the International Addiction Review Journal, which said users paid in the range of $10-$25 a pill.

Amphetamines are largely used by young men and teenaged boys across the Middle East – but the money raised through the sale of all narcotics is not only used to further supply of the illegal drugs trade, but to fund other organized crime and terrorism.

The Saudi authorities continue in their crackdown on the supply and use of illegal narcotics with millions of amphetamine tablets siezed almost every week.

 

 

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Inside Saudi Arabia's war against the drug destroying lives across the Arab world

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Riyadh hospital receives rare certification placing it among top hospitals worldwide in stroke care

Updated 13 sec ago
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Riyadh hospital receives rare certification placing it among top hospitals worldwide in stroke care

  • Certification reflects KFSHRC’s ability to provide fully integrated stroke servicescertification reflects KFSHRC’s ability to provide fully integrated stroke services
  • KFSHRC has strengthened its emergency response capabilities through the launch of the region’s first Mobile Stroke Unit

RIYADH: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh has been awarded the Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification by the American Heart Association and the Middle East and North Africa Stroke Organization, placing it among a select group of leading hospitals worldwide to achieve the highest level of recognition in stroke care.

This certification reflects KFSHRC’s ability to provide fully integrated stroke services, including rapid diagnosis, advanced interventional treatments, and comprehensive round-the-clock rehabilitation programs, all contributing to improved survival rates and reduced complications, according to a press release issued by KFSHRC.

KFSHRC has strengthened its emergency response capabilities through the launch of the region’s first Mobile Stroke Unit, equipped with a CT scanner and a specialized medical team capable of initiating diagnosis and treatment at the patient’s location within minutes, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

The unit has saved numerous lives through rapid intervention and played a significant role during the Hajj season.

The release added that this achievement contributes to the hospital’s growing record of international accomplishments and underscores its commitment to enhancing healthcare quality, developing national expertise, and advancing the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in positioning the Kingdom as a regional leader in specialized healthcare.

KFSHRC was ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa and 15th globally among the top 250 academic medical centers worldwide in 2025. 

It also holds the highest-valued healthcare brand in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East according to Brand Finance 2025 and was listed by Newsweek among the World’s Best Hospitals 2025, World’s Best Smart Hospitals 2026, and World’s Best Specialized Hospitals 2026.