Thwarted the smuggling of 5.3 million Captagon pills hidden in pomegranates
Saudi Arabia bans fruits and vegetables from Lebanon due to drugs
Pomegranate stuffed with drugs in the Saudi port of Jeddah.
SPA
Saudi Arabia decided yesterday to prevent the entry or transfer of Lebanese fruits and vegetables through its territory, due to an increase in drug smuggling.
"The Kingdom decides to prevent consignments of Lebanese vegetables and fruits from entering it or crossing through its lands, starting tomorrow, Sunday, until the concerned Lebanese authorities provide sufficient and reliable guarantees for them to take the necessary measures to stop the systematic drug smuggling operations against it," the Saudi Press Agency said.
Saudi customs at the port of Jeddah thwarted an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of Captagon pills, amounting to more than 5.3 million pills, hidden in the consignment of “pomegranate” fruit.
The Undersecretary of the General Authority for Security Affairs, Muhammad bin Ali Al-Naim, said in a statement yesterday, that “according to the criteria of danger, the consignment, which was on its way from the Republic of Lebanon to the Kingdom, was targeted, and upon its arrival at the port, Saudi Customs was able to find 5,383,400 Captagon pills. It was hidden inside a consignment of pomegranate fruit, and that large quantity of Captagon pills was hidden in an artistic way inside the fruits of the pomegranate.
In Beirut, the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said yesterday that it was informed through the Saudi embassy of the decision to ban the entry of vegetables and fruits from Lebanon due to drug smuggling.
"Minister Charbel Wehbe transferred the matter to senior officials," the ministry added in a statement.
The statement added, "Smuggling drugs in containers or trucks loaded with fruits and vegetables from Lebanon abroad is an act punishable by Lebanese law, and the Ministry affirms that drug smuggling and shipment harm the economy, the Lebanese farms and the reputation of Lebanon."
• The Lebanese Foreign Ministry was informed, via the Saudi embassy, of the ban.
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