The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) keeps up its efforts to fight any smuggling attempts, succeeding in foiling 6 attempts to smuggle more than 1.1 million Captagon pills concealed in consignments coming to the Kingdom through Al Hadithah Port.
ZATCA stated that the Captagon pills were seized during carrying out the customs procedures and inspections of several consignments using X-ray scanners and K9 units (police dogs). The illegal pills were hidden in various sophisticated techniques. However, the smugglers' methods were thwarted by the efficiency and experience of the ZATCA personnel at the port. ZATCA said that the first failed smuggling attempt involved a 145,340 Captagon pills were found hidden inside the exhaust pipe of a truck incoming to the Kingdom through the port. The pills were concealed after the exhaust pipe was lined with heat-resistant material.
Furthermore, the vigilance of the ZATCA personnel led to the foiling of a second attempt involving a consignment of "pomegranate molasses." The smuggler had concealed 73,988 Captagon pills in a hidden compartment built for the purpose of smuggling, located beneath the refrigeration unit of the truck carrying the shipment. In the third attempt, the ZATCA personnel at the port successfully thwarted the smuggling of 95,950 Captagon pills hidden inside a truck's batteries. The batteries had been emptied of their mechanical components and then filled with the pills in a sophisticated manner.
ZATCA added that the customs checkpoint also managed to thwart a fourth smuggling attempt after discovering 450,867 Captagon pills hidden inside three boxes specifically manufactured for smuggling, located beneath the cooling unit of one of the incoming trucks.
In the fifth foiled attempt, the smuggler hid 188,370 Captagon pills within a shipment of "marble stone," concealing them inside hollowed-out wooden pallets carrying the marble specifically for the purpose of smuggling. In the sixth attempt, 217,340 Captagon pills were hidden in the truck's spare tire), stated ZATCA.
After the Captagon pills were seized, the four contraband recipient inside the Kingdom were arrested in collaboration with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC), added ZATCA.
ZATCA spares no effort to tighten its grip over the Kingdom's imports and exports. The Authority vows to ever be vigilant against any smuggling attempts in order to realize its goal for strengthening the security and protecting society against these harmful substances and other contraband. ZATCA also affirmed that it is working to unify efforts with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) to contribute to the effectiveness of the methodology followed by both entities in combating drug smuggling in all its forms and types.
At the same time, the Authority has called on everyone to contribute to combating smuggling and protecting the society and national economy by reaching out to the Authority's number designated for security reports (1910), via e-mail 1910@zatca.gov.sa or by the international number (00966114208417). The Authority, through these channels, receives and follows up reports related to smuggling crimes and violations of the Common Customs Law at strict confidence, with a financial reward given to the whistleblower if the reported information is proven correct.
