Manama: Qatar authorities have foiled an attempt to smuggle 2.2 million Captagon pills into the country.
Four members of an international drug trafficking network were arrested in the successful operation, completed with the cooperation of another Arab country, which passed on vital information to the Qatar authorities.
Qatari daily The Peninsula, on Monday, reported that the drugs were hidden in a consignment of Qatar-bound heavy equipment, which was allowed into the country, with the cooperation of the Internal Security Forces (Lakhwiya) and the authorities at Doha Seaport.
Two men, one of them Arab, were monitored by authorities as they brought the consignment to a rented home, before attempting to distribute it. They were later arrested.
Two other people involved in the operation were arrested outside the country.
Qatar has toughened its laws in relation to the smuggling of narcotics, and suspects, if proved guilty, can even be sentenced to death, an interior ministry statement issued said on Sunday.
Captagon pills are said to be amongst the most popular drugs with young people in the region.
