TAIF: Police here dismantled a gang Monday led by a Burmese man that traded in the “alternative Haj”, a common term among those who hire people to perform Haj on behalf of their dead relatives and pay SR2,000 per individual. First Lt. Salem Al-Rabai, Taif Police spokesman, said security patrols arrested the gang red-handed while they were distributing advertisements for their Haj-by-proxy services to elderly and ailing people. The Haj season has also led some people to pose as pilgrims and attempt to smuggle drugs and contraband into the Kingdom, Customs officials said. Inspectors have foiled numerous attempts by people posing as pilgrims to smuggle illegal items in secret pockets in their bags and in their personal effects, officials said. Inspectors prevented these people from flooding the country with hashish and Captagon pills they stuffed in dentures, soap, rings and paste packets, according to officials. Abdullah Al-Kharbush, Director of Public Relations and Customs spokesman, told Okaz/ Saudi Gazette that inspectors at several checkpoints thwarted smuggling attempts by using X-ray machines, police dogs and radiation scanning systems. He said customs authorities have made all necessary arrangements to facilitate and simplify the pilgrims' procedures while strictly applying customs laws. A higher committee has been formed from the Customs Directorate in addition to sub-committees stationed at the Kingdom's air, land and sea checkpoints to follow up on Haj and Umrah procedures, Al-Kharbush added.
