Saudis reap huge hauls in drugs crackdown

17 Aug, 2009

Saudi police have seized more than three tonnes of hashish and three million methamphetamine pills in drug raids over the past two months, the interior ministry said on Sunday.
Anti-trafficking forces also seized 10.6 kilogrammes (23.4 pounds) of pure heroin from smugglers as part of the haul from several operations since early June, according to the ministry spokesman and a statement released by Saudi state news agency SPA.
Much of the hashish was captured as it was being smuggled in by boats on the Gulf or overland from the southern border with Yemen. The methamphetamine, locally known as captagon and popular with students and labourers, was often discovered concealed in vehicles and imported equipment, the ministry said.
The ministry did not say where the drugs originated. It said that 113 people, including 57 Saudis, were arrested in these operations for trafficking or trading in drugs. Beheading is usually the punishment for drug trafficking in the ultra-conservative kingdom.

Read Comments