Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) has thwarted 1,268 smuggling attempts across the Kingdom’s land, sea, and air ports, as part of its continued efforts to protect society from prohibited items and uphold national security.

According to an official statement, the intercepted items included 116 types of narcotics such as hashish, cocaine, heroin, crystal meth, and Captagon pills, in addition to 683 other prohibited materials.

The customs authority also reported the seizure of 2,114 items of tobacco and its derivatives, 61 types of undeclared financial sums, and eight cases involving weapons and related equipment.

ZATCA reaffirmed its commitment to strict customs monitoring over imports and exports to safeguard the community, emphasizing ongoing coordination with partner agencies across sectors.

The authority urged the public to support national anti-smuggling efforts by reporting violations via its security hotline (1910), email ([email protected]), or international number (+9661910). It assured that all reports are handled with strict confidentiality and that informants are eligible for a financial reward if the tip proves accurate.