Authorities in Saudi Arabia revealed that 1,461 people, including 512 Saudis and 949 people of 38 different nationalities, have been arrested during the past six months for involvement in smuggling, transporting, receiving and selling drugs and psychotropic substances.

The authorities also expressed their appreciation for the constructive cooperation that their counterparts in a number of countries have provided which resulted in proactive operations that foiled attempts to smuggle narcotic tablets. Drug production and smuggling networks were also dismantled as a result.

Interior Ministry spokesman Major General Mansour Al-Turki said that “The security authorities managed to arrest 1461 suspects, including 512 Saudis and 949 suspects of 38 different nationalities for their involvement in smuggling, transporting and dealing in drugs and psychotropic substances via social media over the last six months”.

General Al-Turki added that police faced resistance from drug traffickers and dealers whilst carrying out their duties and that this resulted in 14 police officers being wounded whilst three drug traffickers and dealers were killed and nine were injured.

In the security operations carried out by the police, the total quantity of substances seized included 24.7 million amphetamine tablets, 19.1 tonnes of hashish and 14.085kg of crude heroin. 236g of heroin, 8kg, 221g and 308mg of opium, 2kg, 725g, 203mg of methamphetamine and 61,480 tablets that are issued only with a medical prescription were also seized during the operations.

General Al-Turki also said that 15 machine guns, 99 pistols, 15 rifles, a single hand bomb, 5245 live rounds were and SR 30,159,803 in cash were also seized.