{
  "id": 13483271,
  "title": "Customs at Saudi ports record 1,126 contraband seizures last week",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/customs-at-saudi-ports-record-1-126-contraband-seizures-last-week",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-10T17:38:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Saudi Gazette",
    "slug": "saudi-gazette",
    "url": "https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/665289/saudi-arabia/customs-at-saudi-ports-record-1126-contraband-seizures-last-week"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Saudi customs authorities seized 1,126 prohibited items at land, sea, and air ports last week, according to the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA). The seized commodities included 35 types of narcotics such as hashish, cocaine, heroin, crystal meth, and Captagon pills, along with 300 other restricted materials. ZATCA also intercepted 810 tobacco products and their derivatives, plus eight different forms of cash. This marked a concerted effort by the agency to bolster security and shield the public from illicit substances.\n\nZATCA emphasized its dedication to enhancing customs control over Saudi Arabia's trade flows, both incoming and outgoing, to ensure societal well-being and stability. The authority stressed the importance of continued collaboration with associated agencies to effectively curb smuggling. ZATCA appealed to citizens to aid in the fight against smuggling and protect the national economy by promptly reporting any suspicious activities via its confidential reporting channels: a hotline number (1910), an email (1910@zatca.gov.sa), or an international line (009661910). Reports of smuggling and breaches of the Unified Customs Law are handled with the utmost confidentiality. Moreover, the authority offered whistleblowers potential financial incentives if their submitted information proves accurate.",
  "summary": "RIYADH — Land, sea, and air customs ports across Saudi Arabia recorded 1,126 seizures of prohibited items last week. The seized items include 35 types of narcotics such as hashish, cocaine, heroin, crystal meth, and Captagon pills, as well as 300 other prohibited materials. Customs ports also foiled attempts to smuggle 810 tobacco products and their derivatives, in addition to eight types of…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "World's most expensive Mongolian falcon sells for record SR1.4 million at Saudi auction",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/worlds-most-expensive-mongolian-falcon-sells-for-record-sr1-4-million",
        "published": "2026-10-10T19:02:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}