Al Shamal Security Department arrested four suspects after they tried to smuggle gold out of the country illegally by converting it into powder form.

Police in Qatar have arrested four men for allegedly trying to smuggle gold out of the country.

The accused — identified only as Asian men — were planning on grinding gold bars into powder to facilitate the smuggling, according to Al Shamal Security Department, which made the arrests. 

Several grinding tools along with invoices of gold purchases were seized from them.  

In a tweet chain, the department said it first zeroed in on the prime accused, who led the police to the others.

The department said the accused and the seized items were referred to competent authorities for further action.

The Ministry of Interior called on the public to report suspicious activities.