Saudi Arabian authorities have arrested two Ethiopian nationals suspected of involvement in the shooting death of an Indian man in the city of Jeddah following a dispute over an illegal transaction.

According to Jeddah city police, the incident stemmed from a financial dispute between men who were dealing illegal drugs in a mountainous area near the city.

One of the suspects reportedly shot and seriously injured the Indian man, who was taken to a nearby hospital but died from his injuries, Gulf News reported.

Police said both suspects were involved in drug trafficking and smuggling in the area. They were also arrested for violating border security regulations and have been transferred to the prosecutor's office for further legal proceedings.

Saudi Arabian authorities have reportedly recently stepped up operations targeting cross-border smuggling and undocumented migrants.

It is worth noting that 31 civil society and human rights organizations previously announced in a joint statement that at least 37 Ethiopians are facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia for drug trafficking.