Saudi Arabia Seizes 47 Million Pills of Drugs Hidden in Flour Sacks... "Largest Scale"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] Saudi Arabia has seized 47 million amphetamine pills, classified as narcotics, hidden inside sacks of flour shipped to the capital Riyadh, CNN reported on the 1st (local time).

The Saudi Ministry of Interior announced that the cargo was detected after being transported to an inland port warehouse on the 31st of last month. CNN reported that this is the first time such a large quantity of narcotics has been seized in Saudi Arabia.

A spokesperson for the Saudi General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) stated that eight people, including six Syrians and two Pakistanis, were arrested on charges of drug smuggling. However, the exact type of drugs seized and the origin of the shipment were not disclosed.

Earlier, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) stated, "Reports on drug seizures submitted by Middle Eastern countries consistently mentioned pills bearing the Captagon logo." Captagon was originally the brand name of a pharmaceutical containing the synthetic stimulant fenethylline, but after legal production was banned, drugs under the name Captagon have been repeatedly seized in the Middle East.

According to the UNODC, Captagon contains amphetamines and other chemicals. Amphetamines are stimulants that excite the central and sympathetic nervous systems, and fenethylline is used as a substitute for amphetamines. There were also rumors that Captagon was used as a combat drug by the Islamic extremist militant group Islamic State (IS).

Meanwhile, at the end of October 2015, five people including a Saudi prince were arrested at Beirut Airport in Lebanon for attempting to smuggle 2 tons of cocaine and Captagon.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.