RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s authorities have seized more than 1.4 million amphetamine pills concealed inside a rock-crushing machine in the Northern Borders region, marking the latest in a series of major anti-narcotics operations carried out during June, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
The General Directorate of Narcotics Control said the operation was part of the Ministry of Interior’s ongoing efforts to combat drug smuggling and trafficking targeting the Kingdom’s security and youth.
Authorities arrested four suspects in connection with the shipment — a Jordanian resident believed to have transported the drugs and three Saudi citizens identified as the intended recipients.
The ministry said its security agencies, working in coordination with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, will continue pursuing individuals and criminal networks attempting to smuggle narcotics into the Kingdom.
The latest operation follows a series of major cross-border security and anti-drug operations in June.
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon foiled an attempt to smuggle nearly 3.9 million amphetamine pills into the Kingdom. Intelligence provided by the GDNC enabled Lebanese authorities to intercept the shipment.
In a separate operation, intelligence shared by Saudi authorities with the UAE led to the dismantling of a criminal network and the seizure of 267,300 amphetamine pills.
At the beginning of June, the GDNC also foiled an attempt to smuggle 845,087 amphetamine pills concealed inside cardboard sheets in the Eastern Region. Authorities later arrested the intended recipient, a Saudi citizen, in Taif governorate.
Brig. Gen. Talal bin Abdul Mohsen bin Shalhoub, the Ministry of Interior’s security spokesman, has said the Kingdom remains committed, with regional partners, to monitor and destroy criminal organizations targeting Saudi Arabia with narcotics.
The government has urged the public to report information related to drug smuggling or trafficking by calling 911 in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and the Eastern Region, 999 in other parts of the Kingdom, or through the GDNC hotline 995 or email [email protected]. All reports would be handled with strict confidentiality.
