Saudi Arabia, Nigeria thwart major 'Hezbollah-linked' drug smuggling attempt
Saudi Arabia, Nigeria thwart major 'Hezbollah-linked' drug smuggling attempt
The haul included 451,807 tablets hidden inside mechanical equipment and initially sent by sea from Lebanon to Nigeria.
1 min read
Over 450,000 amphetamine tablets were hidden inside mechanical equipment before being shipped to the kingdom [Getty - file photo]
Saudi and Nigerian authorities have thwarted an attempted narcotics smuggle of over 450,000 amphetamine tablets sent to the kingdom by sea from Lebanon, according to Saudi state media.
Security spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior, Colonel Talal Al-Shalhoub, said the attempt was by a drug production and smuggling network linked to Lebanon's Hezbollah group, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Riyadh deems Hezbollah a terrorist organisation.
The haul included 451,807 tablets hidden inside mechanical equipment and initially sent by sea from Lebanon to Nigeria, where it was seized by Nigerian authorities, before being shipped to another country and then sent to Saudi Arabia.
In April, Saudi authorities seized a shipment of some 7.8 million Captagon pills originating from Lebanon.
The attempt, which used a pomegranate consignment as cover, resulted in a Saudi ban on the import and transit of fruit and vegetables from Lebanon.
More In News
