Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) announced it has foiled five separate attempts to smuggle a total of 242,296 amphetamine pills into Saudi Arabia through the Al-Rub’ Al-Khali, Al-Haditha, and Al-Durra border crossings.

According to ZATCA spokesperson Hammoud Al-Harbi, the largest seizure occurred at the Al-Rub’ Al-Khali port, where 202,570 pills were discovered hidden in parts of a truck entering the Kingdom.

At Al-Haditha port, three separate attempts were intercepted. In the first, customs officers uncovered 9,859 pills concealed in compartments specially designed inside a truck.

In the second, 6,040 pills were hidden within a shipment of electrical wires.

The third attempt involved 11,424 pills found inside a vehicle’s drive shaft.

The fifth attempt was thwarted at Al-Durra port, where officers found 12,403 amphetamine pills also concealed in a vehicle's drive shaft.

Following the seizures, ZATCA coordinated with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control to track and apprehend the intended recipients within Saudi Arabia.

Authorities confirmed the arrest of two individuals in connection with the cases.

Al-Harbi affirmed the Authority’s ongoing efforts to tighten customs control on imports and exports to protect society from narcotics and related threats, in close cooperation with the anti-narcotics directorate.

He urged citizens and residents to support national efforts against smuggling by reporting violations confidentially. Whistleblowers are eligible for a financial reward if their tip leads to a verified violation.