Saudi seizes 47 million amphetamine pills in record haul

Gulf Today Report

The General Directorate of Narcotics Control in Saudi Arabia thwarted the smuggling of the largest amount of drugs that were on their way to enter the country, with about 47 million amphetamine tablets.

According to a statement by the directorate's spokesman, the site was raided, and the eight participants in its smuggling were arrested, 6 of them of Syrian nationality and 2 of Pakistani nationality.

According to the statement, 46,916,480 tablets of amphetamine were seized from their possession, hidden inside a shipment of flour, according to local media.

The statement indicated that the quantity of narcotics seized in this operation is the largest of its kind that is attempted to be smuggled into the Kingdom in one operation.

The accused were arrested, and initial legal measures were taken against them, and they were referred to the Public Prosecution.

The report did not specify whether the pills were captagon — the amphetamine wreaking havoc across the Middle East — nor did it say where the pills came from.

Captagon pills are produced mainly in Syria and smuggled to large consumer markets in the Gulf.