Saudi, UAE bust bid to smuggle 89,760 amphetamine pills in clothing shipment
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Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) has helped the United Arab Emirates block an attempt to smuggle 89,760 amphetamine pills, officials announced on Sunday.
The Ministry of Interior’s security spokesman, Brigadier General Talal bin Shalhoub, said the narcotics were hidden inside a shipment of clothing accessories. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported his statement.
Shalhoub explained that the success of the operation came through proactive surveillance of criminal networks engaged in drug trafficking. He added that information sharing between Saudi and Emirati authorities was crucial in stopping the smuggling attempt.
Meanwhile, Saudi authorities recorded 1,371 seizures of prohibited items at the Kingdom’s land, air and sea entry points in a single week.
The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) said 47 of those cases involved narcotics such as hashish, cocaine, heroin, shabu and Captagon pills. Another 333 cases are related to other prohibited substances.
Customs teams also intercepted more than 1,046 attempts to smuggle tobacco and its derivatives. In addition, they handled 15 cases linked to undeclared sums of money and three cases involving weapons and accessories.
ZATCA urged the public to assist in combating smuggling by reporting suspicious activities. Reports can be submitted through the hotline 1910, email at 1910@zatca.gov.sa
or the international number 009661910.
The authority assured that all reports will be treated with strict confidentiality and said financial rewards would be given for accurate information.
