Malayali man executed in Saudi Arabia in 43 kg drug smuggling case

Dammam: A Malayali man has been executed in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, after being sentenced to death in a drug smuggling case. The sentence against Abootty Vellili, 41, a native of Peringad in Mahe, Thalassery, was carried out on Sunday. The Saudi Ministry of Interior confirmed the execution.

Abootty was arrested in 2023 after authorities seized 43 kg of narcotics from a GMC van he was driving. According to the prosecution, the drugs had been smuggled into Saudi Arabia by road from Oman.

Based on the evidence presented by the prosecution, the trial court sentenced Abootty to death. The verdict was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

The death sentence was later carried out following a royal decree.