RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control has seized a total of 692 kg of qat in Jazan and Asir and made multiple arrests of people attempting to sell narcotics, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
Ground patrols of the Border Guard in the Jazan region led to the arrests of 13 Ethiopian nationals for smuggling 185 kg of the narcotic qat plant, while authorities in the Asir region arrested six Ethiopians for smuggling 127 kg of the drug.
Further patrols in the Jazan area foiled a reported attempt to smuggle 125 kg of qat while, in Asir, 255 kg was the quantity of the drug being smuggled.
Preliminary legal procedures have been completed for all the individuals involved, who were subsequently referred to the Public Prosecution.
Security authorities have reiterated their call for the public to report any information concerning drug smuggling or selling by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Region, and 999 in the rest of the Kingdom’s regions.
Individuals with information may also contact the General Directorate of Narcotics Control at 995 or through email at [email protected]. Information would be treated with strict confidentiality.
