RIYADH: Saudi Border Guards in the southern regions have thwarted a number of attempts to smuggle one ton and 10 kilograms of narcotic hashish across the provinces of Jizan, Najran, and Asir since 30 December 2018. The Border Guards Spokesperson said that 35 people have been arrested during their attempts to smuggle narcotics to Saudi Arabia through its Southern borders including 28 Ethiopians, 2 Yemenis, 4 Somalis, and 1 Saudi citizen. The Ministry of Interior affirms that the Government of King Salman is keen on combating narcotics due to their great harm to individuals and the society, warning anyone who tries to commit such actions would be punished according to Sharia. The ministry said the Kingdom’s security authorities are capable of deterring the continued attempts to target the citizens with narcotic substances. As part of the combating initiative, Saudi border guards have foiled several attempts to smuggle hundreds of kilograms of narcotic substances and arrested dozens of smugglers in Tabuk, Jazan, Najran and Asir regions in recent months. Spokesman Col. Saher bin Mohammed Al-Harbi said the border guards will remain a strong, vigilant, steadfast barrier to all those trying to harm the homeland, attack its citizens and smuggle drugs.