Drug smugglers in the Arab world are unheard of ... until security forces catch them. The crackdown on a 'shabu' drug-trafficking cell in Jeddah is the latest example.
According to reports, the 'shabu' drug-trafficking cell was run by two members, a Pakistani and a Filipino.
Following the raid, both were arrested for the possession of 4.3 kgs of the narcotic and for attempting to smuggle it into the kingdom, according to Arab News.
The narcotic is more commonly known as crystal meth (methamphetamine) worldwide, however, is commonly known as "shabu" in Saudi Arabia.
Security authorities have been carefully monitoring criminal networks in the kingdom, who tend to take advantage of the Hajj season to smuggle drugs into Saudi Arabia.
Mansour Al-Turki, the security spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said the cell's attempt to exploit the Hajj season resulted in the arrest of the cell members.
Drug busts in Saudi Arabia
Earlier this year, anti-narcotics teams in Riyadh confiscated 680,000 methamphetamine pills in two separate operations, which took place two days apart.
Five people were arrested in the bust, including three Saudi nationals and two Syrians.
It's not just the smuggling of meth.
In 2016, a Saudi man was busted for attempting to >smuggle 1,997 captagon pills and 115 grams of hashish into Jeddah's main prison via drone.
The unidentified man was sentenced to 15 years in prison and 1,500 lashes. Despite the severe punishment, the prosecutor wasn't impressed, arguing that the court should have executed the main defendant.
In 2015, Saudi police confiscated >48,000 beer cans disguised with Pepsi labels at the Al Batha crossing between the UAE and the kingdom. After undergoing the standard customs procedure, the fake cans were discovered.
Serious drug offenders often receive the death penalty in the kingdom.