6.5m Captagon tablets seized on Saudi border

6.5m Captagon tablets seized on Saudi border
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Officers from the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority seized over 6.5 million tablets. (SPA)
6.5m Captagon tablets seized on Saudi border
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Officers from the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority seized over 6.5 million tablets. (SPA)
6.5m Captagon tablets seized on Saudi border
3 / 3
Officers from the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority seized over 6.5 million tablets. (SPA)
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Updated 31 May 2024
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6.5m Captagon tablets seized on Saudi border

6.5m Captagon tablets seized on Saudi border
  • Officers from the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority seized over 6.5 million tablets
  • The drugs have a street value of between $65 and $162.9 million

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s security authorities have thwarted an attempt to smuggle Captagon pills worth millions into the country across the border with the UAE, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.

Officers from the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority seized over 6.5 million tablets at the Al-Batha port found hidden inside a shipment of tires, and arrested four people, the report added.

The drugs have a street value of between $65 and $162.9 million. This is based on a pill reportedly costing between $10 and $25.

Amphetamines are used mainly by male teenagers and adults across the Middle East.

Money raised from the sale of drugs are used for more trade in narcotics, as well as organized crime and terrorism, the SPA reported.

In a statement the ZATCA urged members of the public to report criminal activity on the number 1910, via e-mail @zatca.gov.sa1910, or 00966114208417.

Financial rewards would be given for reports leading to prosecutions, the authority stated.

 

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Saudi royal reserve opens pavilion at hunting and equestrian exhibition in Abu Dhabi

Saudi royal reserve opens pavilion at hunting and equestrian exhibition in Abu Dhabi
Updated 31 August 2024
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Saudi royal reserve opens pavilion at hunting and equestrian exhibition in Abu Dhabi

Saudi royal reserve opens pavilion at hunting and equestrian exhibition in Abu Dhabi
  • Visitors will be informed of the reserve’s success in restoring ecological balance, preserving the natural diversity of wildlife and vegetation, protecting heritage

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Development Authority opened its pavilion on Sunday at the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition.

The authority’s presence at the event, which runs until Sept. 8, aims to promote ecotourism and to establish the reserve as a global destination celebrated for its rich heritage and stunning natural beauty, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Visitors will be informed of the reserve’s success in restoring ecological balance, preserving the natural diversity of wildlife and vegetation, protecting heritage, and supporting and empowering the local community, SPA added.

The pavilion also introduces prominent tourism programs, such as the Northern Reserve, the first sustainable hunting reserve in Saudi Arabia, and the Husky Caravans.

Camping activities and experiences such as stargazing will be highlighted.

Besides promoting ecotourism and working to conserve the environment, the authority’s work involves education of local communities, and raising awareness about the importance of preserving biodiversity and achieving sustainable development.

The authority, representing the second-largest royal reserve in Saudi Arabia spanning 91,500 sq. km, is home to more than 138 species of wildlife and over 179 plant species.


Saudi minister meets Tonga's crown prince at Pacific leaders meeting

Saudi minister meets Tonga's crown prince at Pacific leaders meeting
Updated 31 August 2024
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Saudi minister meets Tonga's crown prince at Pacific leaders meeting

Saudi minister meets Tonga's crown prince at Pacific leaders meeting
  • The pair discussed relations between their nations and ways to enhance them

RIYADH: Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir met Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala of Tonga on the sidelines of the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Nuku’alofa, capital of the island nation.

Adel Al-Jubeir, who is also climate envoy, relayed King Salman’s and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s greetings and best wishes for Tonga’s progress and prosperity.

The crown prince reciprocated with his greetings and appreciation to the Saudi leadership and wished the Kingdom prosperity and well-being.

The pair discussed relations between their nations and ways to enhance them.

Following the meeting, the Tongan crown prince hosted a lunch for Al-Jubeir and his delegation, which included the Kingdom’s ambassador to Australia and non-resident ambassador to Tonga, Sultan bin Khuzaim.


Riyadh hosts grand finale of Comedy Factory initiative

Riyadh hosts grand finale of Comedy Factory initiative
Updated 31 August 2024
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Riyadh hosts grand finale of Comedy Factory initiative

Riyadh hosts grand finale of Comedy Factory initiative
  • Four-month program uncovers new artistic and comedic stars

Riyadh: The four-month Comedy Factory initiative to discover new artistic and comedic talents concluded at Boulevard Riyadh City.

CEO of the General Entertainment Authority Faisal Bafarat attended the grand finale of the comedy initiative, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

Hassan Al-Balam, team leader of the Comedy Factory, said that the success of the initiative was largely due to the support of GEA Chairman Turki Al-Sheikh, adding that he “believed in the Comedy Factory concept and diligently pursued all of its details until it was realized.”

Al-Balam said: “During the project, we had clear goals set for us, namely, establishing a Saudi youth comedy theater.”

He expressed his gratitude to everyone who contributed to the project’s success.

At the ceremony, graduate students showcased their talents by performing two plays written by fellow graduates, titled “The Enchanted Chair” and “Alzheimer.”

The plays highlighted the skills and experience they had gained in impersonation, performance, and diction during their training.

The event concluded with the distribution of certificates to the students, and Bafarat presented commemorative shields to the faculty members in recognition of their efforts.

Shields were also presented to the outstanding students: Ghazwa Al-Mansour, Haitham Habib Al-Ahmed, Othman Khalid Al-Nassar, and Nawaf Al-Qahtani for scriptwriting; and Haifa Ibrahim, Abeer Fahd, Noura Abdullah, Sultan Mohammed Al-Faisal, Nasser bin Thani Al-Anazi, Omar bin Hamad Al-Qahtani, and Abdullah Al-Osaimi for acting.

The initiative provided Saudi youths with the opportunity to showcase their comedic talents and creative writing abilities, as well as to expand their skills under the guidance of academics and specialists in the field.

The initiative received 3,500 applications for participation, which were sorted and narrowed down to 300 applicants at the evaluation stage, including 40 students for the acting and writing tracks.


KSrelief clinics serve patients in Yemen and Jordan’s Zaatari camp

KSrelief clinics serve patients in Yemen and Jordan’s Zaatari camp
Updated 31 August 2024
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KSrelief clinics serve patients in Yemen and Jordan’s Zaatari camp

KSrelief clinics serve patients in Yemen and Jordan’s Zaatari camp

RIYADH: Saudi aid agency, KSrelief, provided a variety of medical services to war-impacted patients in Yemen and Jordan’s Zaatari refugee camp, state news agency SPA reported. 
The Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Center in Yemen's Hadhramaut served 217 Yemenis in July who lost their limbs.
The center, located in Seiyun district, provided a total of 691 services that ranged from prosthetic limb fittings and rehabilitation, physical therapy, and specialized consultations.

The services included prosthetic limb fittings and rehabilitation, physical therapy, and specialized consultations. (SPA)

Elsewhere, KSrelief offered treatment to 2,613 patients in the Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees in Jordan during the third week of August.
The general medicine clinics examined and dispensed medications to 655 patients during the week, while the internal clinic received 116 patients and the pediatric clinic attended to 287 children.
The emergency department received 237 patients, the gynecology clinic served 219 women, and the dental clinic attended to 129 patients.

In Zaatari Camp, the general medicine clinics examined and dispensed medications to 655 patients during the week, while the internal clinic received 116 patients and the pediatric clinic attended to 287 children. (SPA)

 


KSrelief distributes food aid in Chad, Sudan and Lebanon

KSrelief distributes food aid in Chad, Sudan and Lebanon
Updated 31 August 2024
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KSrelief distributes food aid in Chad, Sudan and Lebanon

KSrelief distributes food aid in Chad, Sudan and Lebanon

RIYADH: Saudi aid agency, KSrelief, has distributed food parcels in Chad, Lebanon and Sudan as part of its global food security program.  
KSrelief handed out 1,000 food parcels in the Kanem region of Chad, benefiting 6,000 individuals from the neediest groups.

1,000 food baskets  were disrtibuted in the Kanem region of Chad, benefiting 6,000 individuals from the neediest groups, as part of this year's food security support project. (SPA)

In Sudan, 1,100 food parcels were distributed in Shendi locality in River Nile State, benefiting 6,325 individuals from displaced and needy families affected by floods and rains. 

Food parcels were handed out to 6,325 individuals from displaced and needy families affected by floods and rains in Shendi locality in River Nile State. (SPA)

In Lebanon, KSrelief continued the fourth phase of Al-Amal Charitable Bakery project in Akkar Governorate and Al-Minieh District by handing out a total of 175,000 bags of bread from August 22-28.
As part of the project, the aid agency distributed 25,000 bags of bread on a daily basis, benefiting 12,500 families from Syrians, Palestinians and the host community living in northern Lebanon.

In Lebanon, KSrelief continued the fourth phase of Al-Amal Charitable Bakery project in Akkar Governorate and Al-Minieh District. (SPA)