A trick used by smugglers to bring contraband into the Kingdom, via a shipment of “a machine used for recycling laundry”, failed. Despite their skill in hiding the drugs inside the shipment, the eyes of the customs officers succeeded in bringing them down.

The smugglers' tricks don't stop there, as others tried to pass a shipment of drugs through LED lighting products, which was seized by customs officers, and other shipments were seized inside vehicles that arrived at Saudi ports.

They are the protective shield and the ever-vigilant eye, safeguarding the nation's borders and collaborating with security agencies and community institutions to maintain the Kingdom's security and prevent the smuggling of contraband and narcotics. Saudi Customs contributes to enhancing security by serving as a primary guardian of the country's borders and implementing its strategy of continuously adopting modernization to keep pace with changes and developments, leveraging international best practices and utilizing the latest smart solutions and technologies.

24-hour reports

For years, Saudi Customs has enjoyed continuous support, care, and attention from the leadership in recognition of the important role it plays in enabling the economy and protecting the country. During the past stages, it has achieved many accomplishments, as it plays a vital role in enabling the economy and enabling the activities led by the state at all levels.

At the level of enforcing security and protecting society and the national economy, Customs undertakes combating the smuggling of harmful products and unfair trade practices, and seeks to achieve this by taking advantage of the latest technologies that enhance the efficiency, speed and integration of systems and increase coordination between headquarters, ports and all relevant parties.

Among the most prominent initiatives launched by Customs to enhance the security aspect, which helps in focusing on the most dangerous shipments, is the Security Reporting Center, which receives and follows up on all security reports that come to the Authority around the clock. The center receives all reports related to security observations, in addition to the establishment of the Command and Control Center, which works around the clock for central monitoring.

Saudi Customs is working to utilize the latest security technologies to assist in the detection and inspection of shipments, in addition to the important role of the National Center for Live Detection Methods affiliated with Customs in enhancing the security aspect, as the center undertakes the task of training specialists in live detection methods on several programs, including the drug detection program, the explosives detection program, the weapons detection program, the money and tobacco detection program, in addition to other programs offered by the center.

Cocaine, hashish, and tobacco products

The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority recorded 1,383 seizures of prohibited items at land, sea and air customs ports during a week, including 63 types of narcotics such as hashish, cocaine, heroin, crystal meth, Captagon pills and others, in addition to 841 prohibited materials.

The various ports also witnessed the thwarting of 2,249 cases of smuggling of tobacco and its derivatives, in addition to 24 cases of sums of money, and 15 types of weapons and their supplies, as the authority confirmed its continued efforts to tighten customs control over the Kingdom’s imports and exports in order to achieve the security and protection of society.

Prohibited items in a washing machine

The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority at Jeddah Islamic Port thwarted an attempt to smuggle 1,482,132 Captagon pills, which were found concealed in a shipment arriving in the Kingdom through the port. The Authority explained that the shipment, declared as a "laundry recycling machine," arrived at Jeddah Islamic Port. During customs procedures and inspection using security technologies and live detection methods, the pills were discovered hidden within the shipment. Following the seizure, and in coordination with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control, the intended recipient of the contraband within the Kingdom was apprehended.

Two failed attempts

The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority at Al-Batha and Al-Rub’ Al-Khali border crossings thwarted two attempts to smuggle a quantity of crystal meth, which was found hidden in two vehicles that came to the Kingdom through the two crossings.

In the first attempt, a truck arrived through the Al-Batha border crossing. During customs procedures and security screening, 1.944 kilograms of crystal meth were found hidden in the truck's side compartments. In the second attempt, a vehicle arrived through the Rub' al Khali border crossing. During customs procedures, 4.140 kilograms of crystal meth were found concealed inside the vehicle's battery.

Captagon in the driver's seat

A smugglers' attempt to smuggle drugs through the Kingdom's ports of entry was thwarted. Customs at the King Fahd Causeway intercepted 120,370 Captagon pills, in addition to 45,975 other prohibited pills, which were found hidden inside the four door panels of a vehicle entering the Kingdom. In a second attempt, customs at the Al-Haditha border crossing intercepted 21,011 Captagon pills, which were found concealed inside a suitcase belonging to a traveler arriving in the Kingdom. In a third attempt, customs at the Duba port intercepted 34,084 Captagon pills, which were found hidden inside the driver's seat of a truck arriving in the Kingdom via the port.

Partners in Success

Hamoud Al-Harbi, spokesman for the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, confirmed that the authority relies on advanced security technologies and trained personnel to protect society from the scourge of drugs.

He explained that all of the Kingdom's ports of entry are fully prepared to thwart smugglers, utilizing the best technologies and personnel. He attributed this success to many factors, most importantly the unwavering support of the leadership, and emphasized the ongoing cooperation of government agencies. All these resources and capabilities, he asserted, give the Kingdom a significant advantage in apprehending violators.

Live methods and rigorous training

The National Center for Live Means, affiliated with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, has achieved tangible results, as the live means are highly trained according to international standards, to play a vital role in preserving national security.

The National Center for Live Means at the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority is a resource for training specialists in live means on many training programs, most notably the program for detecting drugs, weapons, money and tobacco, in addition to other programs that the center provides to security agencies, such as the search and rescue program (missing and drowned persons) as well as the attack and protection program (search, pursuit, raid and counter-terrorism).