Pakistani national executed in Saudi for smuggling drugs

A Pakistani national was executed in Saudi Arabia’s eastern region on Monday after he was found guilty of smuggling drugs into the kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

Zahed Al-Rahman Shafie Al-Rahman was caught smuggling heroin inside his intestines, the interior ministry said.

The ministry said that the accused was convicted by the court with the sentence endorsed by the appeal and supreme courts. A royal order was issued to execute the sentence.

It reiterated that the Saudi government is “keen on combating narcotics due to their great harm to individuals and the society”, and warned violators of punishment according to Sharia law.

The kingdom’s laws on drug smuggling are among the strictest in the world and it has carried out multiple executions of those convicted of the crime.

In July, two Pakistani nationals and a Lebanese national were executed in the kingdom, while a Nigerian national was executed in Madinah in June for smuggling cocaine in his intestines.

Those executed in the country for drug smuggling last year include five Saudi nationals, four Pakistani nationals, three Yemenis, Two Egyptians, one Syrian national and a Palestinian national.