The security spokesman of the Ministry of Interior said that the security forces have arrested (1,309) people in drug related crimes during the last six Hijri months. The arrested people included (453) Saudi nationals and (853) foreigners belonging to (35) different nationalities. Huge quantities of drugs and weapons were seized from them.
The spokesman added that the arrested people were found involved in smuggling, selling and receiving narcotics. He said that security forces faced armed confrontation from the smugglers that was dealt with, which resulted in the killing of two drug smugglers and nine others were injured; one security man martyred and 25 others sustained injuries in the attack from the drug smugglers and dealers.
The security spokesman said that the seized drugs included (11,666,847) amphetamine capsules, 12 tons of hashish, 13 kilo raw heroin and 188 grams of heroin ready for sale.
A total of (703) weapons, including 52 machine guns, 584 revolvers, 67 guns and 28,460 live rounds of ammunition, in addition to SR16,925,727 currencies were also seized.
The security spokesman noted the coordination and integration among the customs department and the security authorities in the follow-up, monitoring and preventing attempts to smuggle the drugs into the Kingdom, stressing the keenness of the security forces to carry out their duties to protect citizens from the scourge of drugs.