879 smuggling attempts thwarted: ZATCA's efforts to protect the Kingdom's security
As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance security and protect society and the national economy, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced a new security achievement: thwarting 879 smuggling attempts through land, sea, and air customs ports in a single week. These operations demonstrate the high level of vigilance of the Authority's personnel and their ability to counter criminal plots targeting the Kingdom's security.
The seizures included a wide range of contraband, with 71 types of narcotics confiscated, including hashish, cocaine, heroin, crystal meth, and Captagon pills, which pose a significant threat to the region's youth. In addition, 364 other prohibited substances were seized, and 1,915 attempts to smuggle tobacco and its derivatives were thwarted. The seizures also included five types of cash and three types of weapons and related equipment, reflecting the diverse methods and contraband that criminals attempt to bring into the country.
General context: An ongoing war on smuggling
Saudi Arabia, by virtue of its strategic geographic location connecting three continents, is a global logistics hub, making it a target for international smuggling networks. Recognizing this challenge, the Kingdom prioritizes border security and is waging a comprehensive war against the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and other prohibited materials. The efforts of the Customs Authority (ZATCA) are an integral part of a broader national strategy aimed at achieving the goals of Vision 2030 in building a secure society and a prosperous economy. Recent years have witnessed significant investment in modernizing customs ports and equipping them with the latest global technologies, such as advanced X-ray scanners and the use of artificial intelligence to enhance the accuracy and speed of inspection processes.
Importance and expected impact
These successful operations have profound effects on various levels. Locally, these seizures directly contribute to protecting youth and society from the devastating scourge of drugs, reducing drug-related crime rates, and maintaining social stability. Regionally, the Kingdom sends a firm message to organized crime networks in the region that its borders are impenetrable, and thwarting the smuggling of large quantities of drugs, especially Captagon, helps to dry up the sources of funding for these networks and limits their activities that destabilize neighboring countries. Internationally, these efforts demonstrate the Kingdom's commitment to its role as an active partner in combating transnational crime and securing global supply chains that pass through its territory and ports.
A call for community cooperation
The Saudi Central Bank (ZATCA) affirmed its commitment to strengthening customs control over the Kingdom's imports and exports, emphasizing the importance of ongoing cooperation and coordination with its partners in security and military agencies. In this context, ZATCA reiterated its call to citizens and residents to contribute to combating smuggling to protect society and the national economy by contacting them via the dedicated security reporting hotline (1910), email (1910@zatca.gov.sa), or the international number (00966114208417). ZATCA stressed that all reports are treated with complete confidentiality and that a financial reward will be given to the informant if the information provided is accurate.
