ABHA, 7 December 2002 — Coastguards in Qahma, Haridha and Shaqeek, 210 kilometers south of Abha, foiled attempts to smuggle goats into the Kingdom from Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia in boats.
The guards arrested one of the suspects and impounded six boats abandoned by other smugglers after a five-hour manhunt.
Mubarak Al-Mutlaka, director of agriculture in Asir, told Arab News that said an investigation has been launched.
Mutlaka said a veterinary team will inspect the goats seized from the smugglers to make sure that the animals are free of diseases. He suspected that a network of goat smugglers might have been active in the country making quick profits as a result of the recent price rise.
The Kingdom banned imports of livestock from a number of African countries in a bid to prevent the spread of Rift Valley Fever and Foot and Mouth Disease.
— Majed Al-Bassam
