Foreign transporters used pilgrim luggage to smuggle drugs into Saudi Arabia!

October 20, 2015

Jeddah, Oct 20: Foreign transportation companies have tried to smuggle drugs into the Kingdom by hiding them in pilgrims’ luggage, according to the Saudi Customs Authority.

pilgrim

Essa Al-Essa, spokesperson of the authority, charged that these companies have tried to take advantage of pilgrims’ crowds to smuggle drugs in addition to other violations.

Captagon, Tramadol Qoro, qat and large quantities of other drugs were found in pilgrims' luggage, in addition to undisclosed amounts of money. “An organized gang is involved in smuggling cash and precious metals using pilgrims’ luggage.”

He explained that the main violation by transportation companies is mixing pilgrims’ bags in such a way that their identification becomes difficult. Al-Essa refused to identify the countries sending luggage violating the rules.

The customs authority has an automated mechanism in place to prevent smuggling attempts. It includes trained dogs and X-ray inspection.

It held an exhibition to show workers the types of drugs, ways of smuggling them and proper means to deal with incoming pilgrims.

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News Network
January 3,2020

Hong Kong, Jan 3: Oil prices soared more than four per cent Friday following claims that the US had killed a top Iranian general, ratcheting up tensions between the foes and fuelling fears of a conflict in the crude-rich region.

The head of Iran's Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, was hit in an attack on Baghdad international airport early Friday, according to Hased, a powerful Iraqi paramilitary force linked to Tehran.

Brent surged 4.4 per cent to USD 69.16 and WTI jumped 4.3 per cent to 63.84.

“Oil prices still have room for further upside as many analysts are still having to upgrade their demand forecasts to include a rather calm period on the trade front,” Moya said, referring to the warming trade relation between China and the United States.

“President Trump is likely to take a break on being ‘tariff man’ until we get beyond the presidential election in November.”

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News Network
April 18,2020

Dubai, Apr 18: Saudi Arabia has reported 1,132 new coronavirus cases, taking the total number of confirmed COVID-19 patients to 8,274, the Ministry of Health revealed on Saturday.

The ministry has also announced five more deaths from the virus, taking to 92 the Kingdom’s death toll.

Recoveries
As for recoveries, 280 new recoveries were reported, pushing the total number of patients recovered to 1,329.

The ministry revealed that 79 per cent of today’s cases are expatriates and that 65 per cent of the cases were detected through intensified and active COVID-19 screening in densely-populated areas.

A total of 201 patients of Saturday’s cases have contracted the disease due to being in contact with existing cases, the ministry added.

The new infected cases have been placed under complete isolation and they are receiving necessary medical care, an official from the ministry said.

He affirmed that medical teams are intensifying efforts and screening tests in workers' neighbourhoods and accommodations in order to limit the spread of the disease.

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Agencies
January 4,2020

Baghdad, Jan 4: At least five people were killed on Saturday by an airstrike on a vehicle convoy of Iraq's Shia Popular Mobilization Forces in northern Baghdad, a source in security forces told Sputnik.

Earlier in the day, the source told Sputnik about a powerful explosion in Baghdad's northern district of Taji.

"A vehicle convoy of the Popular Mobilization Forces has been attacked. According to preliminary data, five people have died. Their names have not been clarified so far," the source said.

On Friday, several senior members of the Popular Mobilization Forces, as well as commander of the elite Quds Force of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps Qasem Soleimani, were killed by a US drone attack near the Baghdad International Airport.

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