ع
The Saudi Press Agency said Border Guard land patrols operating in the Raboua Sector of the Asir Region arrested 14 Ethiopian and Yemeni nationals. The arrests followed the discovery of 240 kilograms of khat that the group had sought to smuggle into the country in breach of the Border Security Law. After completing the required preliminary legal procedures, officers referred the suspects and the seized khat to the competent authority.
In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the Border Guard encouraged the public to share details about any suspected drug smuggling or trafficking. Citizens and residents can call 911 in Makkah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, 999 in the remainder of the Kingdom, 994 to reach the Border Guard or 995 for the General Directorate of Narcotics Control. The agency added that all reports are managed with full confidentiality and that those providing information incur no legal liability.
The Saudi Press Agency has reported a series of comparable interceptions by Border Guard units across Asir, Jazan and Najran in the past year. In one instance, patrols seized more than 420 kilograms of khat from multiple individuals attempting entry through the southern borders. Such operations have become routine as authorities maintain pressure on smuggling routes originating from neighboring cultivation areas.
Khat is a controlled substance in Saudi Arabia, with its possession, use and trade subject to strict penalties under the country’s anti-narcotics legislation. The leaf-based stimulant is produced mainly in Yemen and Ethiopia, prompting frequent cross-border attempts through the Asir region’s challenging landscape, according to patterns documented in official security updates. The latest seizure adds to the tally of successful disruptions achieved by coordinated land patrols.
Collaboration between the Border Guard and the General Directorate of Narcotics Control has enhanced the effectiveness of these border enforcement measures, the Saudi Press Agency noted in its coverage of recent campaigns. Data compiled from these operations indicate consistent results in preventing large-scale entries of prohibited substances. The public reporting mechanism forms an integral component of the overall strategy to safeguard the Kingdom from illicit drug inflows.
