Border surveillance to intensify

The spokesman for the Border Guard in Jazan has revealed that support aircraft will be used to monitor smuggling and illegal entry across the Saudi-Yemeni border, Al-Hayat newspaper reported. Brig. Gen. Abdullah Bin Mahfooz however said that the directorate would not stop operating its field vehicles. Aircraft will be used to support the guards on the ground. He explained that the aircraft would be taking off from Sharourah Airport. The directorate will soon welcome 50 pilots who will operate the planes, Bin Mahfooz said. The head of Border Guard for the Tiwal strip in Jazan, Brig. Gen. Hassan Ameesh, revealed that the directorate has apprehended 401 infiltrators during Ramadan alone. He added that 262 kg of qat, 258 kg of hashish and 33 AK-47 assault rifles were intercepted during operations this month. A number of other security operations were conducted. Speaking to Al-Hayat daily, Ameesh revealed that Border Guard Director Gen. Zameem Al-Sawwat has honored two officers who intercepted a drug-running operation. A security source said some deported foreign workers were attempting to smear the directorate’s image by filming videos where they appeared to be torturing people while wearing the guards’ uniform. The source asserted that the guards’ conduct is documented. Guards, he added, provide medical assistance for those needing it until they are deported. Apprehended individuals need to have their fingerprints taken so that they can be deported safely, the source stated. Some of the Saudis attempting to illegally cross into Yemen last month have been revealed to be involved in security incidents. The Board Guard referred them to the concerned authorities. Bin Mahfooz did not reveal whether they were involved in terrorism. He said Border Guard patrols are always vigilant about infiltrators and cross-border smugglers.