The Saudi Border Guard in the Asir Region has announced that it has thwarted an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of illicit drugs into the country. According to the border guard, the three individuals attempting to smuggle the narcotics are Ethiopian nationals.
Saudi authorities arrested the three Ethiopians for violating the Border Security Law after they attempted to bring in 17 kilograms of hashish and 7,500 amphetamine tablets.
This drug smuggling attempt was intercepted by Border Guard land patrols in the Raboua Sector, with the suspects accused of breaching border security regulations.
As reported by the Saudi Gazette, preliminary legal procedures have been completed, and the suspects along with the seized drugs have been referred to the competent legal authority.
Saudi security officials stated that they will continue to intensify border security and monitoring operations to protect the country and its youth from the dangers of narcotics.
Additionally, the Saudi Border Guard urged the public to report any information related to drug smuggling or trafficking to law enforcement agencies.
Authorities reiterated that all reports submitted will be handled with complete confidentiality and that informants will bear no legal responsibility.
Previously, the Saudi Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of 22 suspects, including an Ethiopian national, following an operation targeting a drug-smuggling network in Riyadh.
Last June, the Ministry of Interior reported dismantling a criminal ring involved in drug trafficking and distribution in Riyadh, noting that one of the foreign nationals detained was an Ethiopian.
On the other hand, it is recalled that CNN reported that numerous Ethiopian migrants are facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia, noting that this year alone the number of executions for non-violent drug offenses reached 71, with Ethiopians representing a significant portion of the foreign nationals.
Meanwhile, the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that 1,971 Ethiopians facing difficult circumstances—including those undergoing legal proceedings or who have received court verdicts in Saudi Arabia—are beneficiaries of clemency.
Last year, a total of 356 people were executed in Saudi Arabia, out of whom approximately 240 were convicted of drug offenses, with the majority being foreign nationals.
