Anti-drug authorities arrested 12 smugglers over the past three days in three cities of the Kingdom.

One of the detained smugglers had been using social media to promote his trade, according to Al-Hayat newspaper.

In a tweet, the drug combating directorate said more than 2.4 million narcotic pills and 98 kg of hashish were found with the culprits.

It said a cell of eight smugglers were discovered in Riyadh with 2.45 million narcotic pills while three smugglers were arrested in Makkah with 97.5 kg of hashish.

According to the directorate, a smuggler in Taif was using social media to expand his trade.

Over the past two years, the directorate launched a fierce fight against people who promoted drugs on social media and apprehended a number of men and women responsible.

It said a man and wife were found to be using Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter to sell drugs.

The directorate said most of the smugglers were in Riyadh and Makkah.

The Public Prosecution warned smugglers using social media to promote their trade that they would be slapped with cybercrime charges, which are punishable by jail terms of five years and fines of up to SR3 million.

The directorate asked people with social media accounts having names of drugs to immediately deactivate them or they will be penalized.

Abdul Ilah Al-Sharif, secretary-general of the National Committee for Combating Drugs, said Snapchat was the most commonly used application to circulate drugs and liquor.

He said 23 cases of smuggling through the Snapchat were discovered in the last five months.

SOURCE : SAUDIGAZETTE