JEDDAH — The Border Guard have apprehended 223 infiltrators who tried to enter the Kingdom by sea and confiscated as many as 10,074 kg of hashish in the last week of Ramadan, its spokesman Col. Sahir Bin Mohammed Al-Harbe told local daily Al-Madina on Sunday. He said during four days from June 26-29, the Border Guard patrols foiled an attempt by 123 people who tried to enter the Kingdom by boats from the Sudanese shores. The spokesman said the infiltrators consisted of 71 Sudanese, 23 Ethiopians, 28 Chadians and a Nigerian. He said on June 30, the Border Guard confiscated 193 kg of hashish from an Ethiopian smuggler who attempted to smuggle in the quantity through the southern shores. "Next day, the Border Guard patrols in Jazan caught 356 kg of hashish after exchanging fire with the smugglers who were carrying the narcotics on their backs," he said. The spokesman said on the same day, the Border Guard units in Asir Province caught two Yemenis who attempted to smuggle 300 kg of hashish on a boat. He said the Border Guard in Makkah nabbed 33 people who tried to enter the Kingdom through Al-Laith coming from the Sudanese shores on the Red Sea consisting of 21 Sudanese, five Ethiopians and seven Chadians including six women and five children. Al-Harbe said on July 2, the Border Guard in Jazan suspected a car and on searching it discovered 225 kg of hashish hidden in the car boot. "On July 3, the Border Guard in Makkah caught 67 infiltrators who were boarding two boats coming from the Sudanese shores," he said. According to the spokesman, the infiltrators consisted of 54 Sudanese, seven Chadians, five Ethiopians and a Nigerian. They included eight women. The spokesman said the legal procedures were currently being taken against the smugglers and the infiltrators.
