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Pornographic Videos, Black Magic Tools Seized In Mecca
JEDDAH, July 12 (News Agencies) - Security forces in the Holy City of Mecca in Saudi Arabia have seized pornographic videos, black magic implements, stolen electronics and tampered food items in massive raids Monday, the Saudi press reported Wednesday.
The Al-Madinah newspaper reported that around 500 officers of the rapid deployment force, the Civil Defense, Mecca security police, traffic police and the Saudi Red Crescent, took part in the dusk-to-dawn security operation in the city's Mansoura district, which started on Monday night.
The Okaz newspaper claimed they seized 3,000 stolen items, including cassette recorders, washing machines, air conditioners and refrigerators.
In a disturbing revelation, the newspaper also reported they also seized pornographic videos, fake stamps and black magic paraphernalia. Security officers also discovered that illegal overstayers from the Hajj (Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca) were running 30 unlicensed restaurants in the area where contaminated chickens were found stored in refrigerators. Al-Madinah said that the existence of seven gambling dens and brothels has also come to light.
Police blocked off all entry points to the area before the sweep in Mansoura district, one of the oldest residential areas of the city. The dilapidated district is poorly maintained with cramped living conditions, unhygienic food stalls and damaged streetlights.
Around 29,000 families live in the district, most of whom are unemployed expatriates from other countries. Gangsters, who routinely harass businesses in the area, are also active in the district.
A telephone booth operator in the area talking about the gangsters' activities and one of their scams, told Arab News, "They come after Maghreb prayers and continue their calls until midnight. They escape unnoticed without putting the handset back in its place, so that the operator will think they are carrying on with their telephone conversation."
Brig. Muhammad Al-Mulaihem, acting director of Mecca's police force, said that 300 illegal immigrants were arrested in a similar operation on June 29th and said his officers are planning to comb various other districts of the city in the coming days.
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