Manama- Bahrain’s Coast Guard patrols said on Saturday they foiled the trafficking of a large quantity of narcotics coming from Iran into Bahrain and worth more than $662.6 thousands after arresting the drug trafficker, who is an Iranian.
The Bahraini Interior Ministry said that the Maritime Operations Centre suspected a boat in the north of Bahrain that was sailing despite a maritime ban.
According to the Bahraini news agency, the patrol chased the boat and managed to stop it.
The Coast Guard then found through the radar system, narcotics hidden in rubber tires in the seabed, tied with a rope. The seized narcotics are 33KG of hashish and less than 1KG of methamphetamine.
The concerned authorities arrested Ahmed Riyadh Ali Ahmed Al Qazaz, 25, with drug-related criminal records. Tools for narcotic use were confiscated from his car.
Another suspect, Sayed Hassan Majid Ashoor, who owns the boat, was also arrested.
Investigation in cooperation with the Anti-narcotics Directorate revealed that the two were involved in drug trafficking cases.
The investigation also revealed that the seized narcotics were sent to the first arrestee from an Iranian drug trafficker via the sea.
The news agency said legal proceedings were taken and the case was referred to the Public Prosecution.
Meanwhile, Bahrain’s Assistant Undersecretary for Legal Affairs said the court verdict to close down the National Democratic Action Society (Waad) was a primary sentence and what police did on May 31 wasn’t related to the closing down of its headquarters but was meant to stop illegal assembly associated with the inciting calls that could disturb general security and civil peace, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
The Assistant Undersecretary said that police were committed to dealing with illegal violations in all situations and locations.
He said the security of Bahrain and safety of its people were the government’s top priority, while citizenship involved both rights and responsibilities to which everyone should remain committed.