Two Yemenis and a Saudi citizen were also arrested in separate operations for peddling drugs, SPA said.
Seven of the Ethiopian suspects were caught by the Saudi Border Guard in Al-Ardah, Jazan region, while trying to sneak into the Kingdom 320 kilograms of the narcotic qat plant, SPA said in one of eight reports.
Another report said Border Guard land patrols in Al-Dayer, Jazan, arrested four Ethiopians for illegal entry and found in their possession 39.5 kilograms of hashish and 19,960 tablets of amphetamine.
In Fifa governorate, also in Jazan, security patrols arrested two Ethiopians for illegal entry and found in their possession 59,998 tablets of restricted drugs.
Still in Asir, security patrols of the General Directorate of Mujahideen arrested a Saudi citizen for peddling hashish and methamphetamine (shabu), SPA said.
And in Jeddah, agents of the General Directorate of Mujahideen arrested two Yemeni nationals for peddling hashish and amphetamine.
Amid the persistent drug menace, security authorities called on the public to report information they have about any activities related to drug smuggling or promotion by calling the numbers (911) in the regions of Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and (999) in the rest of the regions of the Kingdom.
On July 8,2024,The General Administration of the Mujahideen and Border Guard patrols successfully thwarted multiple smuggling attempts in Jazan and the Asir Region, seizing a total of 1,222 kg of qat.
Patrols in Jazan thwarted the smuggling of 507 kg of qat, and the confiscated items were transferred to the appropriate authorities after initial regulatory procedures.
Security regiments in the Asir Region also intercepted 240 kg of qat in the Al-Farsha Governorate.
In the Al-Raboah sector of the Asir Region, Border Guards arrested 11 Ethiopians attempting to smuggle 275 kg of qat.
Preliminary legal procedures were implemented, the suspects were arrested, and the seized drugs were handed over to the relevant authorities.
Border Guard patrols in the Al-Ardah sector of Jazan thwarted the smuggling of 200 kg of qat.
Initial regulatory procedures were promptly carried out, and the confiscated items were transferred to the authorities.
People are urged to report any information pertaining to drug smuggling or related activities.
