Saudi Arabia: 1,079 drug and weapons smuggling cases seized in one week
As part of the intensive security efforts to protect the borders and assets of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) announced the achievement of qualitative security accomplishments in just one week, as the monitoring teams in various land, sea and air customs ports were able to seize (1079) various smuggling cases.
Details of the seized items: drugs, weapons, and money
The authority revealed in its weekly report the variety of materials that smugglers attempted to bring into the Kingdom, reflecting the vigilance of customs officers and the efficiency of the technological systems used. The list included:
- Narcotics: (60) types of narcotics were seized, including highly dangerous substances such as hashish, cocaine, heroin, crystal meth, and Captagon pills, which are among the most targeted substances for the youth of the region.
- Weapons and ammunition: In a serious development that was dealt with firmly, the Authority thwarted (14) cases related to the smuggling of weapons and their supplies, highlighting the vital security role of the ports.
- Prohibited materials and tobacco: The seizures included (512) cases of general prohibited materials, in addition to huge quantities of tobacco and its derivatives amounting to (2036) seizure cases, along with (55) cases related to disclosing sums of money (money laundering).
National context: The war on drugs and protecting the economy
These successive seizures come within the framework of the comprehensive national campaign led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to combat drugs, in which all security and military sectors are participating. Customs ports are considered the first line of defense in this war, as ZATCA seeks not only to prevent the entry of narcotics, but also to protect the national economy from counterfeit and adulterated goods, as well as tax and customs evasion.
These large numbers reflect the scale of the challenges facing the Kingdom, and in contrast, they demonstrate the high level of preparedness and strict control that the Authority imposes on imports and exports, using the latest technologies in X-ray inspection, live means (police dogs), and intelligent risk analysis.
Call for community participation
The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority affirmed its commitment to continuing to strengthen customs controls in cooperation with its partners in the General Directorate of Drug Control and other security agencies. The Authority emphasized the crucial role of citizens and residents in this security system.
The authority called on everyone to contribute to protecting society and the economy by reporting any suspected smuggling through official and secure channels, which guarantee complete confidentiality for informants, through:
- The number designated for security reports: (1910).
- International number: (009661910).
- Email address: ( [email protected] ).
