Ahmad Abdullah Saudi Gazette RIYADH – Drugs worth SR1.9 billion were seized and 762 drug dealers were arrested this year between April and August, announced the Ministry of Interior spokesman here Tuesday. Of the 762 arrested criminals, 247 were Saudis and 515 belonged to 26 different nationalities, said the spokesman. Two officers, Yehya Al-Sa'en and Badar Al-Rashidi, died as martyrs while 10 officers were injured in the clashes with drug dealers, the spokesman said. Eighteen drug dealers were killed and 39 injured during the operations to foil narcotic smuggling. Around 6.8 kilograms of raw heroin and 544 grams of heroin, ready for distribution, were seized. Some 17 tons of hashish and 5.2 million pills of amphetamine were confiscated. More than SR11 million in cash were found with the criminals. The spokesman lauded the coordination between the customs department and all related agencies which participated in the arrest of drug dealers.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of 681 drug dealers during operations between November 2011 and March 2012.
In July, Security patrols in Domat Al-Jandal governorate set up a temporary checkpoint on the outskirts of the governorate that resulted in the seizure of 44,787 Captagon tablets and 445 kg of amphetamines concealed in an SUV driven by a Saudi national in his 20s. He was accompanied by another person. The two had reportedly crossed into the Kingdom with the drugs from a neighboring country, Col. Muhammad Al-Ayadhi, Commander of the Road Security Special Force in Al-Jouf region, was quoted as saying.
