JEDDAH: In one of the largest drug hauls in Saudi Arabia, security authorities in Riyadh have seized more than five million amphetamine capsules and arrested 11 people.
“The gang, comprising nine Saudis and two Sudanese, was about to hand over the contraband to their recipients in Riyadh,” Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman of the Interior Ministry, said.
A total of 5,173,000 amphetamine capsules, three grams of heroin, a machine gun and a pistol were seized from the smugglers, he said.
All those arrested have been referred to the competent authorities for completion of regulatory procedures, Maj. Gen. Al-Turki added.
In a related development, customs authorities at the Al-Haditha border crossing foiled attempts to smuggle 394,000 Captagon capsules hidden in two different vehicles, Ibrahim Al-Inizi, director-general of Al-Haditha Customs Center, said.
According to Al-Inizi, a private vehicle arrived at the border crossing and inspectors found 300,000 capsules hidden inside the tires of the vehicle during routine procedures.
Also, 94,000 Captagon capsules, wrapped in plastic bags, were found hidden in the dashboard of a truck, he said.
Smugglers try to bring in banned items that could harm the safety and health of individuals and the community, but the customs staff are always alert and foil such attempts, the official added.
5 million amphetamine capsules seized, 11 held
5 million amphetamine capsules seized, 11 held
Saudi Arabia welcomes US designation of Sudan’s Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organization
- Kingdom’s FM lauds decision by Secretary of State Marco Rubio
- Prince Faisal bin Farhan says decision bolsters regional security
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has welcomed the US government’s decision to designate the Sudan branch of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization.
The minister expressed his support for the decision during a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to a statement issued by the Kingdom’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.
During the call, Prince Farhan said the Kingdom supports Washington’s measures that strengthen regional stability and security.
Rubio issued a press statement on March 9 announcing that the Department of State was “designating the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist and intends to designate the group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, effective March 16, 2026.”
He also claimed, without providing evidence in the statement, that the “Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood uses unrestrained violence against civilians to undermine efforts to resolve the conflict in Sudan and advance its violent Islamist ideology.
“Its fighters, many receiving training and other support from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), have conducted mass executions of civilians.”
He added that the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood’s Al-Baraa bin Malik Brigade was designated in September 2025 “for its role in Sudan’s brutal war.”
