Saudi security forces in Riyadh and Jazan regions have thwarted three attempts to smuggle large quantities of hashish, weighing about 1,243 kilograms, during the past five days, police said.

Border guards spokesman Lt. Col. Misfer bin Ghannam Al Quraini said that as part of ongoing operations by the border guards to combat drug smuggling and stop targeting the Kingdom with narcotics, a plot to smuggle a large quantity of hashish was uncovered.

The spokesperson said the narcotic substances weighing about 948 kg were seized and the person who received them, a Saudi with criminal record from Riyadh, was arrested.

In Riyadh, Saudi border guards have thwarted an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of hashish into the Kingdom through its southern borders.

The accused has been referred to the relevant authorities for further action.

Earlier this week, Saudi authorities seized a haul of 224 kg of hashish hidden in a truck loaded with cattle fodder and barley at a security checkpoint in the governorate of Al Daer in the southwestern region of Jazan.

Drug smuggling is an offense punishable by death in Saudi Arabia.

On Saturday, patrols of the security regiments in the Jazan region managed to foil an attempt to smuggle 50 kilograms of hashish, which was professionally hidden inside a hollow in a vehicle box.

Colonel Ahmed Al Tuwayan, director of public relations and information at the Ministry of Interior Agency for Security Regiments Affairs, said the person involved in it, who is a citizen in his 20s, has been arrested.