Saudi customs authorities reported 996 seizures of prohibited goods at the Kingdom's land, sea, and air ports, as part of ongoing inspection efforts at border crossings.
The seizures spanned several categories, including 25 categories of narcotics, 219 categories of prohibited goods, 759 categories of tobacco products, and 11 categories involving undeclared cash.
What travelers must declare
Travelers are required to declare currency, monetary instruments, gold bars, precious metals, precious stones, or jewelry valued at SAR 40,000 or more. Personal purchases or gifts exceeding SAR 3,000, as well as tobacco products, must also be declared and may be subject to applicable fees and taxes.
Declarations can be submitted electronically through the customs declaration application or website. However, restricted or prohibited goods must still be presented at the customs declaration office at the port, even when a declaration has been filed online.
Penalties for non-declaration
Undeclared prohibited goods may be confiscated and fined, and the case may be referred to the relevant authorities or the customs court. The customs fine is set at 25% of the seized value for a first violation and 50% for a repeat violation, with repeat violations potentially facing doubled penalties.
The figures serve as a reminder for residents and visitors to review the declaration rules before travel, as accurate and timely declarations help avoid confiscation, fines, and legal referral at the Kingdom's ports.
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