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ZATCA spokesman Hamoud Al-Harbi said customs officers at King Fahd International Airport subjected an incoming postal parcel to standard inspection procedures. Advanced security scanners combined with live detection methods revealed 40,000 amphetamine pills concealed inside packaging that outwardly held glass cups. The seizure occurred during routine clearance at the Dammam facility, which serves as a major air entry point in the Eastern Province.
Al-Harbi stated that ZATCA immediately coordinated with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control following the discovery. This joint action resulted in the arrest of two people inside the Kingdom who had been awaiting the shipment. The spokesman highlighted how such rapid follow-up operations extend the impact of border interdictions beyond the initial find.
The Saudi Press Agency reported that ZATCA seized more than 25 million illicit pills along with over 1,000 kilograms of other narcotics between June 2025 and May 2026 across all ports. King Fahd International Airport has figured in multiple recent cases, including the interception of 18,549 amphetamine pills in September that led to four arrests according to the same authority. These figures illustrate the scale of ongoing smuggling pressures at air cargo and postal hubs.
Al-Harbi noted that postal parcels have increasingly been used to move smaller consignments of amphetamines, which are frequently known regionally as Captagon. Concealment within everyday items such as tableware requires layered detection tools that combine technology with trained canine units at Saudi facilities. The authority has adjusted protocols repeatedly to address shifts in trafficker methods observed over the past year.
The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority maintains continuous oversight on imports and exports at all land, sea and air points in partnership with the Ministry of Interior. Al-Harbi said this latest operation at Dammam underscores the integrated enforcement framework that targets both the smuggling routes and recipient networks within the country. Officials process thousands of such parcels weekly under heightened scrutiny to reduce the flow of prohibited substances.
