Over 5,000 drug dealers nabbed in three months

December 10, 2019 | 02:51 PM
One of the seized machines used for locally manufacturing Captagon tablets. — Okaz photo
One of the seized machines used for locally manufacturing Captagon tablets. — Okaz photo
December 10, 2019 | 02:51 PM
Last Updated: December 10, 2019 | 08:19 PM
3 minute read
AA
Resize
increase-icon
By Ibrahim Alawi

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH —
The General Directorate of Narcotics Control has announced that as many as 5,067 people from 32 countries were apprehended in three months on charges of smuggling, transporting, receiving and circulating drugs.

Sources close to the directorate said special machines for the local manufacturing of amphatamine (Captagon) pills were also confiscated.

They said the drug dealers resorted to importing the machines for the local manufacturing of the Captagon because the grip was tightened on the smugglers along the borders and also due to the thorough work of the Saudi customs.

The sources said a number of machines for the local manufacturing of the Captagon are now in the hands of the directorate.

Spokesman of the directorate, Col. Abdulaziz Mohammed Kadasa, said 5.4 million of the Captagon pills were confiscated in addition to six ton of hashish, 1.4 kg of cocaine, 2.9 kg of heroine and other amounts of various kinds of narcotics.

He said 420 pieces of weapons were found with the smugglers in addition to cash money amounting to SR10.5 million.