The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) announced today in a statement a new security achievement, adding to its impressive record. It successfully thwarted 1,202 attempts to smuggle contraband through various land, sea, and air customs ports in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in just one week. These efforts reflect the vital role the Authority plays as the first line of defense in protecting the security and economy of the community.

The seizures included a wide range of prohibited substances that pose a direct threat to social security and public health. ZATCA explained that the confiscated items included 64 types of highly dangerous narcotics, such as hashish, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, as well as large quantities of Captagon pills, which specifically target young people. Authorities also seized 546 other prohibited substances, 12 types of weapons and related equipment, and uncovered 11 cases of smuggling involving undeclared sums of money, often linked to money laundering and the financing of illicit activities. In addition, the smuggling of 2,426 tobacco products, intended to evade applicable duties and taxes, was thwarted.

A strategic role in protecting the homeland

These high-quality operations reflect the Kingdom's comprehensive strategy, aligned with the goals of Vision 2030, which aims to build a safe and prosperous society. The Kingdom's strategic geographic location, which makes it a global logistics hub, places a heightened responsibility on its security and customs agencies to secure its borders against organized crime networks that seek to exploit international trade to smuggle their illicit goods.

Effects that extend beyond local boundaries

The success of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority in thwarting these large quantities of contraband has an impact not only on the local level but also on regional and international security. Every successful seizure contributes to dismantling a link in the chain of transnational smuggling networks and limits their ability to deliver their poisons to other countries, thus reaffirming the Kingdom's role as an active and reliable partner in combating organized crime on the global stage. Protecting society from the scourge of drugs, preventing the spread of illicit weapons, and combating tax evasion are all fundamental pillars for achieving sustainable development and stability.

In closing its statement, ZATCA reiterated its firm commitment to tightening customs control over all imports and exports of the Kingdom, stressing the importance of continued cooperation and coordination with its partners in the security and military authorities to unify efforts and tighten the noose on anyone who tries to compromise the security and safety of the homeland and its resources.

In a new achievement added to the record of Saudi excellence in international forums, a team of Saudi doctors achieved first place with distinction in the prestigious “Doctors Challenge” competition, which was held as part of the Qatar Health 2026 conference. The Saudi team outperformed an elite group of participating medical teams from various Gulf and Arab countries, confirming the leading position that medical competencies in the Kingdom have reached.

The winning team comprised a distinguished group of physicians from King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre: Dr. Fahad Al Jaber, Dr. Renad Al Harbi, and Dr. Salman Al Shuaibi. The team demonstrated an exceptional level of profound medical knowledge, quick wit, and a remarkable ability for clinical analysis and making difficult medical decisions under pressure—essential skills tested in this prestigious international competition.

Background and importance of the competition

The Physicians Challenge, organized by the American College of Physicians (ACP) in collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation, is one of the world's most prestigious competitive events in the medical field. Designed to test the clinical knowledge of physicians across various internal medicine specialties, winning the competition is a testament to academic and practical excellence. The challenge attracts the brightest minds in medicine, creating a high-level competitive environment that reflects the latest advancements and practices in the field.

A reflection of an ambitious national vision

This victory is not merely an individual achievement for the participating physicians, but a direct reflection of the significant investment Saudi Arabia is making in its healthcare sector and the development of its national workforce, in line with the goals of Vision 2030. The Vision aims to build an effective and sustainable healthcare system based on the highest international standards, placing human development at the heart of its priorities. This achievement underscores the competitiveness and leadership of medical education and training in the Kingdom on the international stage, and reinforces the reputation of Saudi medical institutions as centers of excellence and innovation.

Regional and international impact

Regionally and internationally, this achievement reinforces the Kingdom's position as a leading force in healthcare in the region. It also highlights the quality of Saudi expertise, opening new avenues for international collaboration and knowledge exchange. The success of a Saudi team in such a prestigious competition sends a clear message that Saudi medical minds have become a force to be reckoned with in the global medical landscape, capable of leading the healthcare system towards a brighter and more innovative future.