JEDDAH — Three drug smugglers were killed and a policeman was wounded in a shootout with Saudi police in the southern province of Asir, according to an official spokesman of the Drug Combating Department.Maj. Ibrahim Abu Hulayel said on Thursday that one of the smugglers killed in the shooting was the gang leader. He said the incident took place on Wednesday after police surrounded a house in Asir province where suspected smugglers were hiding. He said that police confiscated 71 kg of hashish that remained after the smugglers set fire to their stash. “The smugglers were trying to escape from police after setting fire to the drugs,” Abu Hulayel said, and added that a police officer sustained deep wounds to his chest and hand.
Police have arrested three African members of the gang. “Two of them received slight wounds during the gun battle and have been taken to hospital for treatment,” he added.