Massive drug haul in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH - Saudi authorities have launched a crackdown on narcotics and have seized massive amounts of synthetic drugs and alcohol in the first six months of 2010.

Customs officials have seized 17 million amphetamine pills, 687 kg of hashish, nine kg of heroin and five kg of opium, Xinhua quoted Abdullah bin Saleh al-Kharboush, spokesman for the Saudi customs department, as telling the official SPA news agency.

The six-month haul also included 44,000 bottles of alcohol, consumption of which is strictly forbidden in the kingdom under Islamic law.

In June, police arrested 125 people in connection with drug trafficking, the interior ministry said. They could face death penalty if convicted.

Authorities have also tightened security along the international border with other countries to curb drug trafficking.