JEDDAH – Saudi security authorities have arrested 991 people for their involvement in drug related crimes over the last five months. Drugs worth over SR2.51 billion have been seized during this period, according to a security spokesman at the Ministry of Interior. Those arrested for drug trafficking and sale included 337 Saudis and 654 foreigners from 33 countries. The spokesman said there were armed confrontations between security forces and drug traffickers in which three traffickers were killed and 30 people, including 19 security personnel, injured, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The seized drugs included 8.9 kilograms of heroin, 20.43 tons of hashish, 15.29 million amphetamine capsules, 2.33 kg of cocaine, and 124,892 capsules of medicines that usually require a medical prescription. The security officials also seized more than SR14.45 million worth of currency, 350 machine guns, 136 revolvers, 29 guns, and 7,580 rounds of live ammunition during the period, the spokesman said.
