Saudi Arabia thwarts attempt to smuggle cocaine into Malaysia

At least 25kg of drugs found hidden in shipment of medical devices

The drug bust is part of the Saudi Ministry of Interior’s efforts to 'monitor, confront and thwart' smuggling activities. SPA

Saudi Arabia has stopped a drug trafficking network's attempts to smuggle tonnes of cocaine into Malaysia, the state-run Saudi Press Agency said on Friday.

Security officials “contributed, through information it provided to Malaysian Customs to thwarting an attempt to smuggle 25kg of cocaine hidden in a shipment of medical devices”, SPA said.

The drug bust is part of the Ministry of Interior’s efforts to “monitor, confront and thwart” smuggling and trafficking activities that threaten the security of the kingdom and its young people, the agency added.

Saudi Arabia has stepped up efforts in recent years to intercept drugs at their source and enhance intelligence sharing with partners in a bid to break smuggling networks.

Smugglers hid 25kg of cocaine in a shipment of medical equipment. SPA

This week, more than $972 million of drugs were seized from two dhows in the Arabian Sea, the US military said. It was described as the largest bust recorded in the region.

The two vessels were boarded in operations by the Pakistan Navy ship Yarmook, working in support of the Saudi-led Combined Task Force 150 operated by the Combined Maritime Forces, the US Central Command (Centcom) said.

Two tonnes of crystal methamphetamine with an estimated street value of more than $822 million were confiscated from the first dhow on October 18, Centcom said.

Earlier this year, dozens of state employees were arrested in Saudi Arabia after three criminal networks involved in drug trafficking were smashed, SPA reported.

An official at the Interior Ministry said 19 people were arrested in drugs busts in the Asir, Jazan and Eastern provinces.

The groups were involved in smuggling drugs to other regions in Saudi Arabia and laundering the proceeds, it said.

Gulf states have stepped up efforts to combat the smuggling of narcotics through the region. Located at the crossroads of major drug trafficking routes linking Asia, Africa and Europe, countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman have invested heavily in border security, advanced surveillance technology and co-ordinated intelligence operations.