Cairo: Saudi customs officers had foiled an attempt to smuggle about 2.1 million Captagon pills at a border crossing, authorities said.
The Saudi Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATAC) said the drugs were found hidden inside a shipment of tomato paste at Al Hadaitha crossing in northern Saudi Arabia.
When examined and X-rayed, the tomato paste packets were discovered to have the Captagon pills stashed into purposefully made cavities of the lids.
“After the contraband was seized, legal procedures were taken,” ZATAC added in a statement without saying if any arrests were made.
Tight measures are in place at all the kingdom’s land, sea and air outlets to foil attempts by smugglers who take advantage of holidays and food shipments to try to bring in such illicit staff, it said.
Drug smuggling is an offence punishable by death in Saudi Arabia.
