RIYADH — Anti-drug authorities in Saudi Arabia have foiled an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of narcotic pills into the Kingdom, officials said on Tuesday.

“The continuous security follow-up of the activities of criminal networks, which try to tamper with the security and safety of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its youth, has led to foiling a major attempt to smuggle 1,785,000 amphetamine pills hidden inside a container carrying spices and legumes via Jeddah Islamic Port,” said Maj. Mohammed Al-Nujaidi, official spokesman of the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC).

The attempt was thwarted with the cooperation of the directorate’s counterpart agency in Kuwait, as well as in coordination with the Zakat, Tax and the Customs Authority, he said, adding that recipients of the shipment — a Saudi citizen and a Syrian national — were arrested in Jeddah.

Maj. Al-Nujaidi said preliminary legal measures were taken against the suspects, who were subsequently referred to the Public Prosecution for penal action. — SG/SPA