RIYADH: The Customs Department foiled an attempt recently to smuggle 112,000 Captagon pills by a family of six coming to the Kingdom to perform Umrah.

Ammar Al-Rihaili, Customs director general at Halat Ammar in Al-Jouf, said the Captagon pills were found inside the clothes worn by the suspects.

Amphetamines like Captagon, which is a stimulant, are the drugs of choice in the Kingdom.

He said that during the finalization of the Customs procedures, three lady members of the family were referred to the Women’s Inspection Department for verification.

“All of the three ladies were initially hesitant to be subjected for inspection. There were eventually found to have a total of 53,000 Captagon pills hidden in their dresses,” he said, adding that one lady had 17,000, the other 18,000 and the third 18,000 pills hidden in their clothes.

He added that a total of 59,000 pills were also found in the possession of the three men who were also members of the same family.

“One man had 23,000 pills, another had 3,000, and the third had 33,000. All of the pills were also hidden in their clothes,” he said.

He said the prohibited drugs were confiscated.

He added that the suspects exploited the good intention of performing Umrah to smuggle prohibited drugs into the Kingdom which failed.

“They probably thought that because they were coming here on a religious purpose, they wouldn’t be suspected of wrongdoing,” he said. He said that “it’s good that the Saudi Customs personnel assigned at the post at the time were vigilant,” he said.

He added that because of the numerous attempts to smuggle prohibited drugs and alcohol into the Kingdom, the Customs Department has become more vigilant.