Drug enforcement agencies have seized narcotics worth SR2.09 billion during the past four months and arrested 849 suspected smugglers — 278 Saudis and 571 foreigners from 31 countries.

Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman of the Interior Ministry, said: “Security officers on duty faced armed resistance from smugglers. This resulted in the death of two policemen, while 15 policemen were injured.”

Four smugglers died and six others were injured in gunbattles with police, he added.

He said the seized drugs were 12.33 million amphetamine pills, 16,812 kg of hashish and 6.6 kg of heroin.

“We have also seized SR12.68 million cash and 210 weapons.”

The spokesman highlighted the cooperation between the anti-drug sleuths and the customs department.

“Our security forces are committed to exerting all possible efforts to prevent smuggling of drugs into the Kingdom in order to protect our people from narcotics,” Al-Turki said.

Last November, the ministry announced the arrest of 875 alleged drug smugglers and traffickers and seized huge amounts of drugs from them.