As part of intensive security efforts to protect the borders and assets of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) announced significant security successes in just one week, as land, sea and air customs ports were able to thwart 1,455 various smuggling attempts , including huge quantities of drugs, weapons and prohibited materials.
Details of the seized items: drugs, weapons, and money
The authority revealed in its weekly statistical report that the vigilance of its staff contributed to uncovering complex smuggling attempts, with the seized items including:
- 46 types of narcotics: ranging from hashish, cocaine, heroin, the deadly crystal meth, and Captagon pills, which are among the most targeted substances in the region.
- 558 Prohibited Substances: Substances that are prohibited from entering the Kingdom for security, health, or commercial reasons.
- 2532 quantities of tobacco and its derivatives: in an attempt to evade taxes and harm the local market.
- 28 categories of funds: suspected to be the result of money laundering or illegal activities.
- 3 types of weapons and their accessories: reflecting the seriousness of the attempts that were thwarted.
The security context and the war on drugs
These large seizures come within the context of "war on drugs" to protect society, especially its youth, from the scourge of addiction. The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority acts as the first line of defense at entry points, employing the latest security technologies and X-ray scanning systems, in addition to live detection methods (police dogs), to uncover contraband regardless of how it is concealed.
These figures reflect the scale of the challenges facing security and customs agencies, as smugglers constantly try to devise new methods, but the high level of coordination between ZATCA, the General Directorate for Drug Control and other security agencies stands as a formidable barrier against these attempts.
Economic and social impact
The importance of these seizures extends beyond security to include protecting the national economy . Smuggling tobacco and counterfeit goods harms fair competition and deprives the state treasury of due tax revenues. Furthermore, preventing the entry of weapons and drugs directly contributes to maintaining security and reducing crime rates, thus enhancing the investment and living environment in the Kingdom, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which prioritizes quality of life and community security.
Call for community participation
The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority renewed its call for citizens and residents to contribute to these national efforts, emphasizing that protecting the homeland is a shared responsibility. The Authority urged reporting any suspected smuggling activities through its official channels, which guarantee complete confidentiality
- The number designated for security reports: 1910
- Email: 1910@zatca.gov.sa
- International number: 009661910
The authority indicated that it would provide generous financial rewards to informants if the information provided is correct, in order to encourage community cooperation in combating organized crime and smuggling.
