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The Saudi Border Guard announced Tuesday that its land patrols had arrested eight Ethiopian nationals in three separate incidents for violating the Border Security Law in Asir and Jazan. In the Al-Rabwah sector of Asir two individuals were detained while attempting to smuggle 200 kilograms of khat. Patrols in the Dhahran Al-Janub sector of Asir arrested two additional Ethiopian nationals with 52 kilograms of hashish in their possession.
According to the Border Guard statement four more Ethiopian nationals faced arrest in the Al-Dair sector of Jazan after patrols discovered 80 kilograms of khat during a smuggling attempt. The combined seizures from the operations totaled 280 kilograms of khat and 52 kilograms of hashish. The Border Guard statement confirmed that all eight suspects and the seized materials were handed over to the competent authorities following initial legal proceedings.
In its announcement the Border Guard urged members of the public to report any suspected drug smuggling or border security violations through established channels. Callers can use 911 in the provinces of Makkah Madinah Riyadh and the Eastern Province while 999 serves the remainder of the kingdom. The dedicated lines include 994 for Border Guard matters and 995 for the General Directorate of Narcotics Control with an email option also available and assurances of full confidentiality for informants.
These arrests add to a steady stream of similar interdictions along Saudi Arabia’s southern border. The Saudi Press Agency reported in June 2025 that Border Guard operations in Jazan and Asir during one period alone had resulted in 2411 arrests and the seizure of more than 2.7 million amphetamine tablets in addition to other narcotics. Such activities demonstrate the region’s vulnerability to trafficking from adjacent areas.
Ethiopian nationals have featured prominently in many of the reported smuggling cases involving khat according to multiple security updates from the past year. The stimulant leaf continues to be a primary target for patrols in Asir and Jazan where the terrain facilitates clandestine crossings. The Border Guard maintains that its sustained presence has been instrumental in preventing larger quantities from entering the domestic market.
