Saudi Customs Records 1,075 Contraband Seizures in a Week

Customs ports across Saudi Arabia's land, sea, and air borders recorded 1,075 contraband seizure cases in a single week in early September 2026, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA), which oversees customs enforcement at all entry points.

The seizures covered a range of prohibited goods. They included 71 types of narcotics — such as hashish, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and Captagon pills — along with 390 other prohibited materials. During the same period, ports also foiled 2,234 smuggling attempts involving tobacco and its derivatives, recorded 39 types of cash-related cases, and intercepted 2 types of weapons and related equipment.

The figures reflect the steady pace of enforcement activity seen throughout 2026, with weekly seizure counts generally ranging between roughly 600 and 1,200 cases depending on the week. Weekly updates are issued as short announcements summarizing case counts and the types of items seized, rather than detailed case-by-case records.

How to report smuggling

ZATCA maintains confidential reporting channels for anyone who suspects smuggling, tax evasion, or customs violations. Reports can be made through the security hotline 1910 inside the Kingdom, by email at 1910@zatca.gov.sa, or via the international number +9661910. Submissions are treated as security-related information, and rewards may be offered to informants under internal regulations.

For residents and visitors, the reports underline the importance of complying with customs rules on prohibited and restricted items when arriving in the Kingdom. Penalties and fines for smuggling and prohibited goods are governed by customs and anti-drug laws and are applied case by case, rather than through a fixed published fee.

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