Saudi customs foil smuggling of 25 million pills, over 1 ton of drugs in one year

RIYADH — The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) thwarted attempts to smuggle more than 25 million narcotic and prohibited pills and over one ton of illicit drugs through the Kingdom's land, sea, and air customs ports over the past year.Between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026, customs officers seized a total of 1,098 kilograms of narcotic and prohibited substances, along with 25,112,378 narcotic and prohibited pills, ZATCA said.The authority said the interceptions reflect its ongoing efforts to safeguard society by strengthening customs controls on imports and exports, enhancing operational readiness at border crossings, deploying advanced security screening technologies, and investing in the capabilities of its national workforce.According to ZATCA, smugglers employed a wide range of concealment methods, hiding drugs inside food shipments, equipment, vehicles, and trucks, as well as attempting to smuggle them internally by concealing them inside their bodies.The authority said the successful detection of these attempts demonstrates the vigilance of customs personnel and the effectiveness of the advanced technologies and inspection procedures used at the Kingdom's ports. It added that combating drug smuggling remains one of its strategic priorities because of the direct threat narcotics pose to public safety and national security.ZATCA said it will continue strengthening customs capabilities by expanding the use of advanced security technologies and delivering specialized training programs to customs personnel to enhance their ability to detect increasingly sophisticated smuggling methods. These efforts are carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Interior and the General Directorate of Narcotics Control.The authority reaffirmed its commitment to protecting society from drugs and prohibited substances by maintaining strict customs oversight across all border crossings.It also urged the public to report suspected smuggling activities or violations of the Unified Customs Law. ZATCA said all reports are treated confidentially and that financial rewards are offered for information leading to valid cases.