Duba Port Customs Foils 56,680 Captagon Pill Smuggling

Customs officers at Duba Port in the Tabuk region have foiled an attempt to smuggle 56,680 Captagon amphetamine pills into Saudi Arabia. The pills were concealed inside multiple compartments of a commercial truck arriving into the Kingdom and were uncovered during routine inspection procedures on 19 September 2026.

The seizure was detected through standard cargo and vehicle inspection methods applied at the port. The case falls under the jurisdiction of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA), which oversees customs control and anti-smuggling operations at Saudi ports, including Duba Port.

ZATCA coordinates with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control to arrest the intended recipients of seized narcotics inside the Kingdom — a standard mechanism used in Captagon smuggling cases. Captagon and similar amphetamine-type pills are classified in Saudi Arabia as controlled narcotic substances, and offences carry criminal penalties including imprisonment, fines, deportation for non-Saudis, and asset seizure under the Kingdom's anti-drug and anti-smuggling laws. As prohibited contraband, such pills are not subject to customs duties; seized quantities are confiscated and destroyed, and cases are treated as criminal matters.

How to report smuggling

Members of the public can report suspected smuggling or customs violations at Duba Port or any Saudi customs port through the security hotline 1910 inside the Kingdom, or 009661910 from abroad, as well as ZATCA's dedicated email channel for customs violation reports. Verified informants may be eligible for financial rewards when their tips lead to confirmed seizures or enforcement action.

The Duba Port seizure is part of a broader ongoing campaign across Saudi customs ports in 2025–2026, during which authorities report hundreds of interception operations each week aimed at protecting the community from illicit narcotics.

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