Beer Poses as Soda to Get into Saudi Arabia

It seemed like a routine transport of soft drinks: 48,000 cans of Pepsi cola.

But when customs officials in Saudi Arabia looked more closely at the shipment, they found beer instead.

The officials tore off the Pepsi labels on the cans. Underneath were Heineken beer labels.

The reason for the trickery is clear. Alcohol is banned in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi customs agents made the discovery Thursday near the border with the United Arab Emirates.

There is no information about what happened to the driver of the truckload of “fake soda.”

I'm Caty Weaver.

Bruce Alpert adapted this story for VOA earning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor.