The General Directorate of Narcotics Control in Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday that it had thwarted an attempt to smuggle over 6 million amphetamine pills. The drugs were hidden in a shipment of sweets, citrus fruits, and nuts, and were intercepted in collaboration with the Sultanate of Oman, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Major Marwan Al-Hazmi, the official spokesperson for the General Directorate of Narcotics Control, stated in a press release that “the continuous security surveillance of drug trafficking and promotion networks targeting the Kingdom’s security and youth resulted in thwarting an attempt to smuggle 6,072,291 amphetamine pills. The drugs were concealed in a shipment of sweets, citrus fruits, and nuts, in cooperation with our counterpart in the Sultanate of Oman and in coordination with the Saudi Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority,” according to SPA.
The spokesperson added that “the individuals intended to receive these drugs in Riyadh were apprehended. They were a resident and a visitor with a Syrian nationality visit visa. The legal procedures were initiated against them, and they were referred to the Public Prosecutor.”
The Saudi Ministry of Interior posted a video on its Twitter account, detailing the successful efforts of the General Directorate of Narcotics Control in cooperation with the Sultanate of Oman to seize the amphetamine pills.
This high-profile drug bust underscores the ongoing war against drug trafficking in the region, highlighting the collaborative efforts between Saudi Arabia and its regional counterparts in tackling this persistent issue.
