RIYADH: For being suspected of smuggling and trafficking of narcotics worth SR 1.9 billion, 762 persons were arrested in the last five months, Saudi Press Agency reported yesterday quoting an Interior Ministry spokesman.
Those arrested included 247 Saudis and another 515 persons from 26 different nationalities, the spokesman said.During the crackdown on narcotics dealers, the security men faced armed resistance. This resulted in the death of two security men —Yahya bin Hamad Al-Saan and Badr bin Rukhi Al-Rashidi.
Ten security men were injured during the fire exchange between the two sides. Thirty-nine were killed and 18 injured among the drug dealers, the spokesman said.Huge quantities of narcotics were seized during the crackdown — 6.79 kg of raw heroin, 544.6 mg of heroin ready for distribution, 17 tons of hashish, 5,177,367 amphetamine tablets, in addition to SR 11.15 million in cash, the spokesman said. – Arabnews