ISLAMABAD: The cost of securing Saudi Arabia's borders with Iraq has risen to Saudi Riyals 4 billion (approximately $1 billion) as of August this year compared to Saudi Riyals 1.8 billion at the end of 2004, Saudi press reported.
Saudi authorities have been able to detain 682 Iraqi infiltrators and smugglers during the past six months as well as hold 63 people and prevent them from crossing the northern borders of the Kingdom.
During the period from 2001 last August, security forces uncovered 14.8 million pieces of ammunition, 16,300 firearms and 2,991 pounds of explosives. These measures led to uncovering intensive networks busy in manufacturing and smuggling of explosives to terrorist groups in Saudi Arabia and neighbouring countries.
Since March 2004, a comprehensive training programme was held for the officers participating in these operations for monitoring Saudi borders and border posts. The Frontier Guard and National Guard forces as well as the army are covering nine regions including 35 administrations and 275 border posts.
Security forces were able in the recent operations to uncover several secret places for hiding these explosives.
The Interior Ministry is using modern means for monitoring movement at the borders, including special aircraft supplied by the Saudi Royal Air Force and sophisticated radar equipment and night vision equipment provided by the Ministry of Defence.
The interior ministry is also using modern thermal control systems and border monitoring cameras. The number of fixed units reached 34 in December 2004. The number of mobile units reached 37 and have been installed in the border area with Iraq. Work is going on to install 19 fixed units and a similar number of mobile units.
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