SR1bn worth of narcotics seized

Security authorities thwarted two separate attempts to smuggle more than 22 million amphetamine tablets worth an estimated SR1 billion across the King Fahd Causeway, Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, security spokesman at the Interior Ministry, revealed on Sunday.
The drug bust was conducted by authorities in cooperation with security officials in Bahrain.
Authorities confirmed that they arrested five Saudi nationals and a Bahraini citizen in connection with the drug-smuggling attempt.
The first batch, busted in February, contained more than 7.6 million amphetamine tablets hidden inside barbed wire reels, while the second attempt was thwarted last month and involved the discovery of more than 14 million amphetamine tablets hidden inside plastic rollers.
“Ongoing investigations have confirmed links with an international smuggling network specialized in smuggling amphetamines tablets into the Kingdom,” he said.
“The network is led by Syrian citizens traveling between countries in the region. Authorities are working to complete statutory procedures for prosecution and trial in the Kingdom’s courts.”
He also stressed that security authorities will continue to track down and prosecute anyone involved in attempts to smuggle narcotic substances into the Kingdom through networks for organized crime.