{
  "id": 8514277,
  "title": "Saudi Customs report 1,173 contraband seizures last week",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/saudi-customs-report-1-173-contraband-seizures-last-week",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-19T17:27:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Saudi Gazette",
    "slug": "saudi-gazette",
    "url": "https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/664692/saudi-arabia/saudi-customs-report-1173-contraband-seizures-last-week"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — In a recent week, customs officials in Saudi Arabia intercepted a total of 1,173 instances of contraband across various entry points, including land, sea, and air ports, according to the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA). These seized items encompassed 70 different types of narcotics, such as hashish, cocaine, heroin, crystal meth, and Captagon pills, along with 216 other prohibited materials. Furthermore, customs authorities managed to prevent 888 shipments of tobacco and its derivatives from being smuggled, as well as 13 shipments of counterfeit currency and a single shipment of weapons and related equipment. These efforts are part of the continuous commitment by ZATCA to enhance security and protect society from all forms of prohibited substances. ZATCA emphasized its dedication to maintaining robust customs control over the Kingdom's imports and exports, in collaboration with all relevant partners. The authority urged the public to help combat smuggling and safeguard society and the national economy by reporting such activities via the security reports number (1910), email at (1910@zatca.gov.sa), or international number (009661910). ZATCA assures confidentiality for reports submitted through these channels and promises a financial reward to whistleblowers if the reported information is verified as accurate.",
  "summary": "RIYADH — Customs at land, sea, and air ports across Saudi Arabia recorded 1,173 seizures of contraband last week. The seized items included 70 types of narcotics, including hashish, cocaine, heroin, crystal meth, and Captagon pills, in addition to 216 other prohibited materials. Customs ports also foiled attempts to smuggle 888 shipments of tobacco and its derivatives, along with 13 shipments of…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}