1400 drug and weapons smuggling attempts foiled in Saudi Arabia
The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) announced that it successfully thwarted 1,431 smuggling attempts across various land, sea, and air customs ports in the Kingdom in just one week. This significant operation comes within the framework of the Authority's ongoing efforts to strengthen the security system and protect society from the scourge of contraband in all its forms, and underscores the high level of vigilance demonstrated by Saudi customs personnel.
Details of the seizures and the variety of prohibited items
The seizures included a wide range of prohibited substances that pose a direct threat to national security and the safety of citizens. Ninety-five types of narcotics were confiscated, including hashish, cocaine, heroin, crystal meth, and Captagon pills, which directly target young people. In addition, authorities thwarted the smuggling of three types of weapons and related equipment, intercepted 19 attempts to smuggle funds illegally, and seized 663 other prohibited items. Authorities also prevented the smuggling of 2,728 types of tobacco and its derivatives, highlighting the scale of the challenges faced by customs officials.
The strategic context for combating smuggling in the Kingdom
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia occupies a strategic geographic location connecting three continents, making it a vital transit point for global trade. However, this location also presents it with ongoing security challenges, particularly smuggling attempts organized by transnational criminal networks. Combating smuggling, especially drug and arms trafficking, is a top priority within the Kingdom's national security strategy. These efforts are not new; rather, they are the continuation of a long history of dedicated work to protect its borders and safeguard its society from external threats.
The importance and expected impact of these efforts
Domestically, these operations directly contribute to protecting youth from falling into the trap of addiction, preserving the stability of the social fabric, and supporting the national economy by preventing the entry of counterfeit and adulterated goods and combating tax and customs evasion. Regionally and internationally, the Kingdom's success in dismantling these criminal networks represents a significant blow to them, helps to dry up their sources of funding, and enhances regional stability. These successes also underscore the Kingdom's role as an active and reliable partner in international efforts to combat organized crime and terrorism.
A call for community cooperation
The General Authority of Customs and Trade (ZATCA) reiterated its commitment to strengthening customs control over all imports and exports within the Kingdom, in continuous cooperation and coordination with its partners in the security and military sectors. In this context, the Authority called upon everyone to contribute to this national responsibility by reporting any information related to smuggling crimes through official channels. Reports will be treated with the utmost confidentiality, and a financial reward will be granted to the informant if the information provided is found to be accurate.
