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The Saudi Border Guard announced the results of multiple patrols that led to the detention of nine Yemeni nationals in the Al-Aridah sector of Jazan for attempting to smuggle 144 kilograms of the narcotic leaf khat. In a separate incident within the Al-Dayer sector of Jazan, four Ethiopian nationals were taken into custody in possession of 149,400 tablets that are subject to medical circulation regulations. The authority confirmed that the operations were carried out by land patrols as part of routine border security measures.
According to the Border Guard, five additional Ethiopian nationals were arrested in the Al-Rabouah sector of the Asir region after being found with 100 kilograms of khat, pushing the total amount of the substance seized in the combined actions to 244 kilograms. All 18 suspects, nine of Yemeni nationality and nine Ethiopian, were referred to the relevant authorities together with the confiscated materials for necessary legal proceedings. The Border Guard encouraged the public to contribute to these efforts by reporting any information on border violations or smuggling through the dedicated hotlines 911, 999, 994 and 995 or via the official email channel.
These interdictions reflect a continued focus on the southern borders, where similar actions have been frequent in recent weeks. A statement from the Saudi Border Guard in late July detailed the arrest of 14 Ethiopian and Yemeni nationals in Asir for an attempt to bring in 240 kilograms of khat. Another operation around the same period resulted in the seizure of 140 kilograms of khat and nearly 140,000 tablets along with seven violators, the authority indicated in subsequent updates.
The Ministry of Interior has documented extensive results from nationwide campaigns, with one week in mid-July alone seeing the arrest of 14,970 individuals for residency, labor and border security violations across the kingdom. Such figures underscore the scale of enforcement activities that complement the specific border patrol successes in Jazan and Asir. The campaigns target multiple forms of illegal crossings and trafficking that threaten public health and national security.
Border security operations in the region often involve coordination among various security agencies to intercept attempts at introducing controlled substances into Saudi Arabia. Khat, which Saudi law classifies as a prohibited narcotic, features regularly in smuggling attempts across the southern frontiers. The Border Guard has maintained vigilance along these borders to prevent both human and drug smuggling activities that have been recurrent.
In addition to the immediate seizures, the authority’s statement highlighted the importance of community involvement in maintaining border integrity through timely tips that enable proactive responses. Previous months have seen fluctuating but consistently high volumes of intercepted khat, with individual hauls often exceeding 100 kilograms in single actions. The latest arrests add to a pattern of successful interceptions that are publicized regularly.
