Officers from the Saudi Arabian Department of Customs (SADC) foiled an attempt to smuggle 18,720 bottles of liquor at Al-Batha crossing on the border with the United Arab Emirates. Dhaifallah Al-Otaibi, Director General of Al-Batha Customs Department, said the liquor bottles were found hidden in cooking oil cartons on a truck. The driver was arrested and referred to the concerned authorities. Al-Otaibi said the liquor bottles will be destroyed and praised customs officers for being vigilant and preventing the entry of banned substances into the Kingdom. — SPA photoAbdulrahman Al-Ali Saudi GazetteJEDDAH – Security authorities in Jeddah busted a liquor factory and arrested two foreigners – a man and a woman – in Al-Harazat district of southeastern Jeddah Saturday.The authorities kept surveillance on several localities where foreign workers gathered after they were tipped off on an African expatriate who sold liquor at these locations. The man became active after nightfall in the area known as “workers' triangle," which citizens generally avoided. The streets in the area are dusty and are not lighted. This gave necessary cover to the bootlegger. The man used to carry a paper bag containing mineral water bottles, which appeared normal. However, his behavior aroused suspicions. He entered an area full of ramshackle houses and continued walking until he reached the walled yard of a rest house.The plainclothes officers monitoring the man's movements submitted a preliminary report. The location was kept under surveillance for a further period before it was surrounded. After several hours of waiting, the foreigner came out carrying the bag of bottles. When he was stopped to check his identification papers, he became nervous and attempted to escape. Then the officers found out that the liquid in the bottles was liquor and the rest house was subsequently searched.First Lt. Nawaf Al-Bouq, spokesman for Jeddah police, said a woman of African origin was also arrested from the location. Huge quantities of liquor and equipment used for distilling were seized. Investigations are under way to determine whether other people were involved in the racket.
