Competent security authorities have successfully arrested, during the past six months of the current year 1438H (2017) as many as 1,628 accused persons, including 589 Saudis in addition to 1,039 from 41 different nationalities due to their involvement in crimes of smuggling, receiving, transferring and distributing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, announced the Security Spokesman of the Interior Ministry today. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the spokesman added that the security men faced armed resistance from smugglers and dealers in a number of security operations which resulted in injury of 16 security men in addition to killing of five and wounding of 14 smugglers and drug traffickers. The following narcotic substances, psychotropic substances, weapons and cash money were confiscated during security operations: 21,429,859 amphetamine tablets (Captagon), 19 tons and 612 kg of narcotic hashish, 12 kilos and 932 grams of raw heroin, and 218 kilos and 948 grams of narcotic cocaine. Also 22 kilos and 938 grams of narcotic anesthesia, 1,427,189 tablets which are subject to regulation of medical circulation, 5,468 various weapons and 14,100 various live bullets, and cash money amounts to SR 43,822,684 were also confiscated. The security spokesman confirmed that the security men continue their duties to foil attempts of smuggling drugs into the Kingdom, distributing them, and chasing the elements involved in these crimes. The spokesman added that they coordinate and cooperate with the Saudi Customs and counterparts in brotherly and friendly countries to anticipate plans targeting the Kingdom.
