Customs officials have foiled a major attempt to smuggle a large quantity of cannabis (hashish) through land into the Kingdom.
The attempt was made at the Al-Wadeea land port, which connects the Kingdom to Yemen.
“Officials successfully foiled the attempt to smuggle 85 kilograms of cannabis into the Kingdom,” said Ziad Al-Balawe, director general of Customs at the land port.
Officials found the contraband hidden inside a car’s main fuel tank, which was separated from the engine and replaced by an alternative tank used to operate the vehicle.
“The drug trafficker was arrested at the scene,” Al-Balawe said.
Al-Wadeea Customs officials foiled three attempts to smuggle hashish into the Kingdom last month.
Moreover, an attempt to smuggle in a large quantity of pork was thwarted at a land crossing after security officers found the banned meat hidden inside fridges shipped by a truck entering the Kingdom in the eastern boarder.
An attempt to smuggler alcohol into Saudi was also thwarted, resulting in the seizure of 20,376 bottles of assorted liquor.
Saudi Arabia is determined to execute a zero-tolerance policy against smuggling, and the Customs operations have been bolstered by the addition of latest equipment, such as hi-tech X-ray machines and other electronic gadgets to stop attempts to smuggle banned goods in the Kingdom.
Source: Arab News