Saudi Customs seize over 14m Captagon pills in Dammam

Saudi Customs in Dammam said they seized over 14 million Captagon pills hidden inside the recesses of wooden panels during an X-ray scan carried out as part of customs procedure. (SPA)

Saudi Border Guards said they thwarted a series of drug-smuggling attempts throughout the Kingdom. (SPA)

• The drugs were found hidden inside the recesses of wooden panels
• Saudi Border Guards thwart series of drug-smuggling attempts

LONDON/RIYADH: More than 14.4 million Captagon pills found hidden inside a consignment have been seized by Saudi Customs at King Abdul Aziz Port in Dammam.
The stimulants were found hidden inside the recesses of wooden panels during an X-ray scan carried out as part of customs procedures, Mohammed Al-Naeem, the authority’s undersecretary for security affairs, said.
Al-Naeem said that smugglers are devising new routes in an attempt to transport increasing quantities of contraband.
However, he said that the authority’s mission to provide security and protect the Kingdom will deter smugglers.
“Saudi Customs stands on alert through all its land, air and sea ports, and exerts its utmost efforts to detect and thwart any attempt that might harm the nation and its capabilities.”
Al-Naeem added that Saudi Customs “works to tighten customs control over the movement of imports, exports and travelers by making use of the latest security technologies provided by customs in all ports.”
Meanwhile, Saudi Border Guards said they thwarted a series of drug-smuggling attempts throughout the Kingdom.
Officers arrested 121 people in connection with bids to sneak drugs and psychotropic substances across the country’s land and sea borders.
Operations caught smugglers with 488 kg of hashish and 34.5 tons of khat in Jazan, 184 kg of khat in Asir, 293 kg of hashish in Najran, and 971,676 amphetamine pills in Jouf.
Border Guards spokesman, Lt. Col. Misfer bin Ghannam Al-Quraini, said that the latest clampdown was part of follow-up action against cross-border drug-smuggling attempts by organized crime networks.
Of the 121 arrests, Al-Quraini revealed that 91 were made in Jazan, 17 in Najran, 10 in Asir, and three in Jouf and that official proceedings against all those held had begun.