Customs Foil 4 Attempts to Smuggle Over 500,000 Prohibited Pills through King Abdulaziz Port and Al-Wadeeah Crossing
The General Authority of Zakat and Tax and Customs thwarted four attempts to smuggle 483,585 pills of “Bregabalin” and 37,368 pills of “Zanax,” both of which are subject to medical supervision, at the ports of King Abdulaziz and Al-Wadea. The pills were found hidden in shipments and travelers’ luggage entering the kingdom.
In the first attempt, the King Abdulaziz port managed to thwart an attempt to smuggle 210,000 pills of “Bregabalin” hidden in a shipment that arrived through the port. In the second attempt, the port thwarted the smuggling of 273,585 pills of “Bregabalin” hidden in another shipment.
The Authority further stated that in the third attempt, the Al-Wadea port thwarted an attempt to smuggle 28,578 pills of “Zanax” found hidden in the luggage of one of the travelers entering the kingdom through the port. In the fourth attempt, the port successfully thwarted the smuggling of 8,790 pills hidden in the same manner as before.
After the confiscation operation, coordination was carried out with the General Directorate for Drug Control to ensure the arrest of the recipients of the seized items within the kingdom. Six individuals were apprehended.
The General Authority of Zakat and Tax and Customs confirmed its commitment to strengthening customs control on the kingdom’s imports and exports. It remains vigilant against smuggling attempts as part of its strategy to enhance the security and protection of society by reducing smuggling attempts.
The Authority urged everyone to contribute to the fight against smuggling to protect society and the national economy by contacting them through the designated security hotline “1910,” or via email at “1910@zatca.gov.sa,” and the international number “009661910.” Through these channels, the Authority receives reports related to smuggling crimes and violations of the Unified Customs Law in complete confidentiality, with a financial reward offered to the informant if the information in the report is accurate.
