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The Saudi Border Guard reported that its land patrols arrested five Ethiopian nationals during operations in Asir and Jazan provinces on August 24, 2026, while seizing a combined 301 kilograms of various narcotics and 40,100 tablets. In the Al-Raboua sector of Asir, patrols detained one national who was attempting to smuggle 96 kilograms of khat. The force added that four additional Ethiopian nationals were arrested in Jazan with 160 kilograms of khat, according to its operational briefing.
A separate interdiction in Jazan’s Al-Dayer sector netted 45 kilograms of hashish in addition to 38,500 pills listed as subject to medical circulation regulations and 1,600 amphetamine tablets. Those tablet seizures brought the combined total to 40,100 units, the Border Guard stated. All five suspects and the seized contraband were handed over to competent authorities after initial legal procedures were completed.
The Border Guard has maintained active patrols along Saudi Arabia’s southern frontiers to counter such cross-border smuggling attempts. Similar operations in the same provinces earlier in August 2026 resulted in the arrest of four individuals and the confiscation of 102 kilograms of khat plus additional hashish and regulated tablets, according to subsequent Border Guard reports. These repeated actions underscore the frequency of attempts to move khat, hashish and synthetic drugs through the Asir and Jazan sectors.
Border Guard officials urged the public to report any information related to smuggling or suspicious movements through designated channels to bolster enforcement efforts. The emergency numbers include 911 in Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah and the Eastern Province, with 999 serving other regions. Callers can also contact 994 for border security matters and 995 for narcotics control, while tips may be emailed to [email protected] with assurances of confidentiality.
The Saudi Ministry of Interior, which oversees Border Guard activities, has integrated such seizures into a wider framework of security measures targeting narcotics trafficking. Comparable incidents over recent months have seen hundreds of kilograms of khat and other substances intercepted in the southern border areas, according to compiled operational updates. Authorities continue to process cases through standard legal channels following each successful interdiction.
Public cooperation remains a key element in these campaigns, with the Border Guard emphasizing that all reports are treated with strict confidentiality and carry no legal liability for those providing information. The force reiterated its commitment to disrupting supply lines that feed into the local market for illicit substances. Multiple recent cases involving Ethiopian and Yemeni nationals illustrate the diverse routes and actors involved in these activities.
