In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, Saudi Arabian customs authorities at Jeddah Islamic Port foiled an attempt to smuggle over 416,000 Captagon pills.
The drugs were ingeniously concealed inside a shipment of curtains. This discovery underscores the ongoing battle against drug smuggling in the Gulf region.
The Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority of Saudi Arabia stated that the shipment, initially declared as curtains, underwent thorough customs procedures.
Advanced security technologies and physical inspection methods revealed the large quantity of pills artfully hidden within the curtains.
The authority emphasized its commitment to tightening customs control over imports and exports in Saudi Arabia.
It remains vigilant against smuggling attempts, working in close coordination with partners at the General Directorate for Drug Control.
Captagon, also known as fenethylline, has a history dating back to the 1960s. Initially manufactured in Germany as a treatment for hyperactivity and attention disorders, it has since become notorious as a recreational drug.
The Gulf Health Council had previously warned about the dangers of Captagon abuse, following reports of large seizures of the drug in the Gulf states.
According to the Gulf Health Council, initial symptoms of Captagon consumption include convulsions, sleep deprivation, increased activity, elevated body temperature, and sweating.
Prolonged use leads to severe effects such as brain cell damage, nervous system atrophy, psychiatric disorders (severe depression, schizophrenia, hallucinations, paranoia), respiratory difficulties, blood poisoning, eye problems, and cardiovascular diseases like cardiac arrest.
The Gulf Health Council warns that drug abuse can lead to catastrophic health stages without necessarily passing through all earlier stages. Therefore, it strongly advises against the use of drugs, emphasizing that drug abuse is a journey that can cost everything.
