Saudi Arabia bans Lebanese produce over drug smuggling

Ban announced after Saudi foiled attempt at Jeddah port to smuggle 5.3 million Captagon pills in pomegranate crates.

Saudi Arabia has announced the suspension of fruit and vegetable imports from Lebanon, saying shipments were being used for drug smuggling and accusing Beirut of inaction. The decision announced on Friday is a blow to Lebanon, which is facing its worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war. Its agriculture minister said the move was a “great loss” and that the trade was worth $24m a year. The local currency has dived by more than 85 percent on the black market, inflation is rampant and more than half of the country now lives in poverty.