Syrian government officials on Tuesday announced the seizure of more than half a ton of captagon-type narcotic pills as part of a pasta shipment destined for export to Saudi Arabia.

The Syrian news agency, SANA, quoted a source in the competent authorities as saying, "Through information and extensive investigations into a group of smugglers and drug dealers, the competent authorities stopped an intra-truck in the rural areas of Damascus, and after searching it, found bags of narcotics" captagon "inside a designated pasta shipment. For export to Saudi Arabia, weighing 170 grams per bag, and a total weight of about 525kg.

The source added that the smugglers sprayed "pepper to mislead the devices and 5 sniffer dogs trained in detecting drugs".

He noted that the materials were confiscated while investigations were still underway with the detainees in order to expose all those involved in the affair and take the necessary measures against them.