Saudi Arabia seizes ship smuggling arms to Sudan

RIYADH, Sept 29 (Reuters) – Saudi authorities have seized a ship smuggling more than 500 rifles and ammunition to Sudan from Yemen, Al-Watan newspaper said on Wednesday.

It said the ship was intercepted on Saturday after it strayed into Saudi territorial waters off the kingdom’s southwest Red Sea coast.

Ammunition worth more than one million riyals ($267,000) and 543 rifles were seized, it said.

Saudi Arabia, which is fighting a 16-month Al Qaeda insurgency, has stepped up border and maritime surveillance to prevent militants smuggling weapons into the kingdom from its southern neighbour Yemen.