Security forces have successfully thwarted various attempts by criminal gangs to smuggle more than seven million amphetamine pills, 11,000 tons of hashish, and seven kg of heroin into the Kingdom over the past four months.

Over 900 people were arrested during these security operations, out of which 328 are Saudi nationals, while the rest hail from 33 countries, Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman at the Interior Ministry, told local media.

Even though 21 security officers were injured during the operations, none of them were seriously wounded. Three people involved in drug smuggling died and eight were hurt.

According to police, 421 illegal weapons were seized, including 118 automatic guns, 56 riles, 247 pistols and 46,202 rounds of live ammunition.

Al-Turki added that security men identified and arrested a gang of Pakistanis and Syrians involved in drug smuggling, document fraud, and money laundering.

Security officials also managed to identify and arrest members of a criminal ring involved in smuggling heroin in the Kingdom via the UAE. Thanks to Saudi police's cooperation and coordination with its counterparts in the UAE, they could monitor the gang's activities and thwart attempts to smuggle the illegal substances.

More than 309,000 pills and SR15 million were found in the possession of those arrested.

Al-Turki praised cooperation between Saudi and Emirati security authorities to monitor and identify criminal networks involved in drug smuggling in the Kingdom, as well as the pivotal role of the Customs Department to monitor and protect the country from such attempts.