A khat dealer was arrested in Asir; details revealed of the foiled smuggling attempt involving 33 kg
In another security achievement added to the series of successes of Saudi security forces in their ongoing war against the scourge of drugs, security patrols in the Asir region arrested a citizen for his involvement in trafficking a large quantity of the narcotic plant khat. Authorities explained that the suspect was apprehended in possession of 33 kilograms of khat in Al-Farsha, one of the region's border governorates.
The suspect was immediately apprehended and all initial legal procedures were taken against him, in preparation for referring him and the seized items to the competent authorities to continue the investigation and apply the penalties stipulated by law. This operation is part of the intensive efforts exerted around the clock by various security and military sectors to secure the Kingdom's borders and protect society from attempts to smuggle and distribute narcotics.
General context: The war on drugs in Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is waging a comprehensive national campaign to combat drugs, aiming to dismantle smuggling and trafficking networks that seek to flood the country with narcotics. The Asir region, due to its geographical location bordering Yemen, is considered a key point of contact in the fight against the smuggling of khat, a plant widely cultivated in parts of the Horn of Africa and Yemen. Khat is classified as a narcotic in the Kingdom and many other countries worldwide, given its content of stimulant substances (cathinone and cathine) that lead to addiction and cause severe health, psychological, and social harm.
The importance of the process and its expected impact
This operation is of particular importance on several levels. Locally, it helps protect young people and the community in the Asir region and surrounding areas from the devastating effects of khat use, and it enhances the sense of security among citizens and residents. Regionally, it sends a firm message to smugglers and criminal networks that the Kingdom's borders are a red line, and that Saudi security forces are vigilant and highly capable of thwarting their criminal plots that target the security and stability of the region.
Security authorities consistently emphasize the crucial role of citizens and residents in this fight, urging everyone to immediately report any information that could help uncover drug smugglers and traffickers. Reports can be made by calling the designated numbers: 911 in the Makkah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, and 999 in the rest of the Kingdom, in addition to the General Directorate of Narcotics Control's hotline (995) and email at [email protected] All reports are guaranteed to be kept strictly confidential.
