JEDDAH — The General Directorate for Narcotics Control has thwarted an attempt to smuggle 14 million Captagon amphetamine tablets hidden inside a shipment of iron plates coming from Lebanon, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Saturday.

The shipment was seized in coordination with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority at the Islamic port of Jeddah.

The directorate said that a citizen was arrested in Riyadh region for his participation in the attempt to smuggle the shipment.

Saudi Arabia has previously banned the import of Lebanese fruits and vegetables in April after a reported increase in drug smuggling from Beirut.

The move came after Saudi Customs foiled an attempt to smuggle over 5 million pills of Captagon stuffed inside fruit imported from Lebanon. — SG