Security authorities have intercepted a major drug smuggling operation involving 16,000 pills of Captagon allegedly manufactured by Houthi-affiliated groups in Yemen, according to regional reports.

The shipment, which was en route to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through a covert land route, was confiscated following a joint intelligence-led operation conducted by border patrol and counter-narcotics units. 

Sources close to the investigation stated that the contraband was disguised within commercial goods, raising concerns over the increasing use of illicit drug trafficking as a funding tool by armed groups.

Captagon—a powerful amphetamine—is classified as a narcotic substance and has been linked to regional instability due to its circulation among fighters and vulnerable youth. Experts warn that its proliferation poses both health risks and security threats.

The thwarted smuggling attempt underscores what officials described as a “growing trend of transnational drug trafficking” tied to non-state actors, particularly in conflict zones like Yemen.

Saudi authorities emphasized their commitment to maintaining border security and preventing the influx of illegal substances, while calling for stronger international cooperation to curb narcotics networks operating across the region.