RIYADH: Saudi Border Guards thwarted an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of hashish into the Kingdom through its southern borders. 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 was arrested. The accused has been referred to the relevant authorities for further action. The arrested person is a citizen with previous convictions in the Riyadh region, Al-Quraini added. 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.