RIYADH, 24 April, 2021 (TON): On Friday, Saudi Arabia announced to ban the import of fruits and vegetables from Lebanon because the Kingdom said shipments are being used to smuggle drugs.
The Saudi Arabian Interior Ministry said, products, especially vegetables and fruits, are being used by drug traffickers to smuggle drugs into Saudi Arabia’s territory.
The ban, which will take effect on Sunday, will remain until Lebanese authorities provide sufficient and reliable guarantees that necessary measures have been taken to prevent smuggling.
To assess the necessity of similar restrictions on other products from Lebanon, shipments of other products will also be closely monitored, the ministry added.
It instructed security services to do their utmost to prevent smuggling activities by tightening security at border gates in light of laws criminalizing smuggling and drug use.
However, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry confirmed in a statement that Saudi Arabia informed Lebanon about the decision.
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