Saudi authorities thwart attempts to smuggle Captagon pills
In a separate operation, customs officers discovered 65,116 pills hidden in a truck cabin’s refrigerator
Updated 22 November 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: The Saudi authorities have thwarted attempts to smuggle 313,906 Captagon pills at the Al-Haditha border crossing. The pills were found hidden in vehicles trying to enter the Kingdom.
According to officials, the discoveries were made during routine customs inspections using advanced security technologies and K-9 units, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The largest single haul was a find of 86,000 pills concealed in a vehicle’s roof compartment, with additional drugs found hidden under the smuggler’s clothing.
In a separate operation, customs officers discovered 65,116 pills hidden in a truck cabin’s refrigerator. A third vehicle was found carrying 52,907 pills in a modified floor compartment, while a fourth attempt involved 55,232 pills stashed in the fuel tank.
The final interception revealed 54,651 pills in a vehicle’s spare tire, demonstrating the increasingly creative methods used by drug traffickers.
Carved by time: Saudi Arabia’s hidden geotourism gem of Razan
Long before modern engineering, the geology of Razan functioned as effective natural infrastructure, sustaining life in an arid environment
This utility made Razan a strategic landmark, playing a vital role in the ancient Yemeni Hajj Road
Updated 06 February 2026
Arab News
AL-LITH: Sixty kilometers north of Al-Lith governorate in the Kingdom's west, rising above the shifting sands and valleys of the Makkah region, lies a place where the earth itself tells a story. This is Razan, a geological wonder where history is not written in ink, but etched into the stone by the patient hands of wind, water, and time.
Perched atop a high rocky mass and flanked by valleys to the northwest and southeast, Razan stands in natural isolation. This geographic solitude has acted as a guardian, preserving a landscape that feels almost otherworldly — a pristine stage set by nature over millennia.
The place is defined by its striking rock formations: dense clusters of stone, stepped ridges that resemble ancient staircases, and natural ceilings sculpted by the relentless flow of seasonal torrents.
The visual impact is one of dramatic contrast — the heaviness of solid rock balanced against open, airy spaces carved by erosion. Fine channels and intricate flow patterns mark the stone, serving as fossilized evidence of the water that once rushed through these corridors, shaping the land into a rugged work of art.
In the quiet majesty of Razan, the past is preserved. (SPA)
Nature’s infrastructure
But Razan is more than just a scenic marvel; for centuries, it served as a lifeline. The same forces that sculpted the cliffs also hollowed out natural rock basins. These geological depressions acted as seasonal reservoirs, catching rainwater and supplementing nearby wells. Long before modern engineering, the geology of Razan functioned as effective natural infrastructure, sustaining life in an arid environment.
This utility made Razan a strategic landmark, playing a vital role in the ancient Yemeni Hajj Road. The sturdy, elevated terrain provided a natural pathway for pilgrims, offering stability and protection on their spiritual journey toward Makkah.
Today, Razan stands at the intersection of heritage and opportunity. No longer just a passage for pilgrims, it is emerging as a valuable asset for geotourism. Its unique topography offers a visual feast for travelers and a treasure trove for scientists studying geological history.
As Saudi Arabia moves toward the goals of Vision 2030, sites like Razan are finding new purpose. By transforming this geological narrative into a tourism destination, the region aims to preserve its natural heritage while breathing new life into the local economy.
