Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) have announced the successful interception of an attempt to smuggle a huge amount of drugs into the kingdom.
The GDNC revealed that 5,280,000 pills of amphetamine were discovered hidden within a shipment of building supplies passing through the Jeddah Islamic Port, according to a report by the Saudi Gazette.
In a statement released by GDNC spokesperson, Maj. Marwan Al-Hazimi, emphasised that the security services are constantly monitoring drug trafficking and drug dealers, as they endanger the security of the Kingdom and its young people.
“We have foiled an attempt to smuggle 5,280,000 pills of amphetamine hidden in a shipment of stones and building supplies passing through the Islamic port of Jeddah,” he said.
The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) worked in close coordination with the GDNC to identify and intercept the shipment.
Saudi Arabia arrests six in major drug bust
The six people involved in the attempted smuggling operation were arrested, with three residents among them, including a Syrian citizen with a visitor’s visa, a Sudanese resident, and a Saudi citizen.
The authorities have taken preliminary legal action against the suspects and have referred the case to the Public Prosecution.
This operation is part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and smuggling, which pose a significant threat to the country’s security and public health.
Recently, Saudi Arabia also launched major campaign against drug use titled ‘Report them’ targeting the “vulnerable” young generation.
Moreover, Saudi authorities thwarted smugglers attempting to bring almost 13 million amphetamine tablets into the kingdom in April. The GNDC foiled an attempt to smuggle 12,729,000 tablets of amphetamine hidden in a pomegranate shipment at Jeddah Islamic Port, Al-Hazmi said.
He added that in coordination with the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority, four people were arrested.
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