RIYADH: Saudi authorities have launched a series of crackdowns across the Kingdom to halt the entry of illegal substances into the country.
Border Guard land patrols in Sharurah, Najran, resulted in the arrest of three Ethiopians for violating the border security system after they had attempted to smuggle 32 kg of hashish.
The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority at Jeddah Islamic Port successfully foiled an attempt to smuggle 46.8 kg of cocaine concealed in a shipment coming to the Kingdom through the port.
The authority said that the cocaine had been concealed in the refrigeration unit of a shipment of frozen chicken and had been found during customs procedures. It was detected using security technologies and live detection methods.
Border Guard land patrols in Al-Raboah, Asir, arrested five Yemenis and Ethiopians violating the border security system after they attempted to smuggle 80 kg of qat.
Meanwhile, land patrols in the Al-Ardah region of Jazan successfully thwarted the smuggling of 135 kg of qat.
Preliminary legal procedures in all the cases have been completed and the seized items handed over to the competent authority.
Citizens and residents are urged to report drug smuggling or sales by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 in other regions.
Reports can also be submitted confidentially to the General Directorate of Narcotics Control at 995 or via email at [email protected].
