JEDDAH, 26 May — Saudi police arrested 17,199 drug smugglers, dealers and users in the year ending March 2001, according to an official report. The figure was 13 percent higher than the previous year, said the report carried by Al-Watan newspaper. Anti-drug agencies also seized more than 245.5 tons of hashish, opium, heroin, cocaine and qat — 12 percent more than the previous year. In addition, the authorities confiscated some 9.7 million narcotic pills. Those arrested include 4,356 dealers, 1,134 smugglers, 11,693 users and 16 others, said the report. More than 30 percent of them, or 5,251 accused, were unemployed, the paper said. Over 79 percent, or 13,612, of those arrested were Saudis, including 41 women.