Saudis thwart attempt to smuggle over 15m Captagon pills

Abu Dhabi: The Saudi customs at Jeddah port have thwarted an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of amphetamine pills found hidden in a consignment of grapes imported to the Kingdom, a senior official said.

Mohammed Al Naeem, the authority’s undersecretary for security affairs, said the shipment was received by customs. He detailed how it was subjected to customs procedures and examined through X-ray machines, revealing more than 15.2 million Captagon pills cunningly hidden inside the boxes of grapes.

Al Naeem said the contraband was seized in coordination with the General Directorate for Narcotics Control, and the recipients of the shipment were arrested as they were caught in the Kingdom.

He added that despite the skill involved in the smuggling method, it was exposed and thwarted due to the diligence of customs employees, when they perform inspection procedures and other security measures, and the use of the latest tools that help uncover such seizures.

“Through all its land, sea and air ports, Saudi customs continue to work diligently to achieve one of the most important pillars of its strategy of strengthening the enforcement of laws and regulations to protect society and the national economy,” Al Naeem added.