Saudi authorities seize 293 kg of khat, 16 kg of hashish in anti-drug operations

Saudi authorities conducted separate anti-drug operations in the Jazan and Asir regions, leading to the arrest of nine individuals. In Asir, land patrols apprehended eight Ethiopian border security violators for attempting to smuggle 160 kilograms of khat. In a separate incident within Asir, security patrols arrested a Saudi citizen found with 133 kilograms of khat concealed in his vehicle.

Further operations in Jazan saw Border Guard land patrols intercept an attempt to smuggle 16 kilograms of hashish and 37,290 tablets. The total seized contraband across these operations amounted to 293 kilograms of khat, 16 kilograms of hashish, and 37,290 regulated tablets.

Following the arrests and seizures, the individuals and confiscated items were transferred to the competent authorities. The suspects in Asir were handed over to the relevant bodies, as were the seized goods in Jazan, for further legal proceedings.