Customs foil attempt to smuggle 18,549 amphetamine pills at Dammam airport

DAMMAM — Saudi customs officials at King Fahd International Airport thwarted an attempt to smuggle 18,549 amphetamine pills concealed within a postal package entering the nation. Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) representative Hamoud Al-Harbi disclosed that the parcel was detected during routine customs examination, employing security systems and detection techniques.

The illicit medication was discovered within the shipment. Subsequently, ZATCA collaborated with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) to identify and apprehend the intended recipients of the contraband upon arrival in Saudi Arabia. Four individuals were taken into custody for their involvement in the illicit endeavor.

Al-Harbi emphasized that ZATCA remains steadfast in enhancing customs vigilance over goods entering and leaving the country, working in tandem with the Ministry of Interior and the GDNC. The authority encouraged the public to report any suspected smuggling activities via their designated security hotline, 1910, or other authorized reporting mechanisms, assuring that such information is safeguarded with utmost confidentiality and that monetary incentives may be provided for accurate disclosures.