On October 23, 2023, Saudi Arabia executed seven individuals in a single day, including five for drug trafficking. The news was reported by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA). This recent action has increased the total number of executions in the kingdom to 236 for the year.Among those executed for drug-related crimes were four Yemeni nationals: Yahya Lutfullah, Ali Azib, Ahmed Ali, and Salem Nahari. They were caught smuggling hashish into the country and were executed in the southern province of Asir. Additionally, a Pakistani man was executed for drug trafficking, raising the total number of drug-related executions in 2023 to 71.Saudi Arabia has been facing a growing issue with captagon, a highly addictive amphetamine produced mainly in Syria and Lebanon. In response, the government has intensified its anti-drug efforts over the past year, leading to numerous raids and arrests.Two years ago, the country lifted a moratorium on the death penalty for drug offenses, which has resulted in a significant increase in executions for such crimes. On the same day as the drug-related executions, two Saudi nationals were executed for murder.Amnesty International reports that Saudi Arabia ranks third in the world for the highest number of executions in 2023, behind China and Iran. Human rights organizations have consistently criticized the kingdom for its use of the death penalty, claiming it is excessive and undermines its attempts to modernize its international image. The Saudi government, however, defends capital punishment as essential for maintaining public order, stating that all legal appeals must be completed before executions are carried out.