RIYADH: Authorities in Saudi Arabia have arrested 421 people accused of trying to smuggle large quantities of drugs into the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
Col. Misfer Al-Quraini, a spokesperson for the General Directorate of the Border Guard, said land patrols in the Najran, Jazan and Asir regions foiled attempts to smuggle close to 53 tons of the stimulant khat, 807 kg of hashish, 145,597 amphetamine tablets and 475,166 tablets that are subject to medical regulation.
Of those arrested, 39 were Saudi citizens, 342 were Yemeni, 38 were Ethiopian and two were Iraqi nationals, he said.
Initial legal procedures against the suspects has been completed and the contraband has been passed on to the relevant authorities, Al-Quraini added.
