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Security officials reported that Border Guard land patrols in the Al-Daer Sector of the Jazan region foiled an attempt to smuggle 68,100 regulated medical tablets on July 23, 2026. The patrols completed the necessary preliminary legal procedures immediately after the interception. Authorities then handed the seized tablets over to the competent authority for additional processing and potential investigation. This marks another success in the kingdom’s efforts to control the flow of regulated pharmaceuticals across its borders.
The General Directorate of Border Guard has recorded numerous such interceptions in the southern regions over the past year. According to a Saudi Press Agency release from June 2025, a large-scale operation across Tabuk, Jazan, Asir, Najran, Makkah, Madinah and the Eastern Province resulted in the seizure of 1,944,230 tablets subject to medical circulation regulations. That same campaign netted 2,756,806 amphetamine tablets, four tons of hashish and 180 tons of khat from various smuggling attempts. The directorate credited coordinated patrols and intelligence for the results.
A total of 2,411 individuals were arrested in connection with those cases, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The group included 1,518 Ethiopian nationals, 842 Yemenis, seven Sudanese, six Eritreans, three Somalis, two Pakistanis and 33 Saudi citizens. Officials noted that the arrests underscored the involvement of transnational networks in attempting to breach Saudi borders with restricted substances.
Saudi security authorities have appealed to the public to assist in these endeavors by reporting suspicious activity. Calls can be made to 911 in Makkah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province or to 999 in the rest of the country, while the Border Guard operates a dedicated line at 994 and the General Directorate of Narcotics Control at 995. Tips can also be submitted via official email channels.
All information provided by the public is handled with the utmost confidentiality and reporters incur no legal liability, according to the authorities. This public partnership has contributed to several major hauls in recent operations. The approach allows for rapid response to potential threats along remote border sectors.
Jazan remains one of the primary areas for such smuggling attempts, multiple Border Guard statements have indicated over time. The Al-Daer Sector in particular has seen repeated patrol deployments to counter illegal crossings. Continued enforcement has led to consistent disruptions of supply lines for both narcotics and regulated medical items.
