A series of raids during the past three months led to the arrest of 210 drug smuggling suspects in Saudi Arabia, wire services reported Wednesday (September 29th).

Authorities conducted 18 raids across the country, seizing drugs worth $88 million, said an interior ministry spokesman.

"Drugs undermine the country's security," said Abdullah al-Yousef, the undersecretary at the Ministry of Social Affairs. Individuals convicted of drug related offenses could face execution.

A majority of the individuals who were arrested were Saudis. The smugglers attempted to bring drugs inside the Kingdom by hiding them in cars, car tires, fruit and their stomachs.

Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman for the interior ministry, said it is likely that the drug traffic is linked to al-Qaeda which uses drug proceeds to finance its operations.