ع
ZATCA spokesperson Hamoud Al-Harbi stated that officers at Duba Port thwarted an attempt to smuggle 56,680 Captagon pills on September 18, 2026. The amphetamine tablets were hidden in various parts of a truck that arrived via the port and was inspected using security technologies along with live means. Following the discovery, the authority maintained its standard procedures for such cases.
According to Al-Harbi, ZATCA continues to apply tight customs controls on all imports and exports through its ports. The authority works to counter smuggling attempts through cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and the General Directorate of Narcotics Control. This approach supports the strategic goal of strengthening security and protecting society.
ZATCA released figures in January 2026 that showed it had seized 24 million narcotic pills across all ports during 2025 in addition to 1,417 kilograms of other prohibited drugs. The data, published on the authority’s website, indicated that these seizures resulted from 1,884 separate cases involving varied concealment methods in commercial shipments, vehicles and personal luggage. Coordination with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control led to arrests of intended recipients in those operations.
Al-Harbi encouraged the public to report suspected smuggling through the authority’s dedicated channels. These include the hotline 1910, the email [email protected] and the international number 009661910. ZATCA processes all submissions confidentially and provides financial rewards for verified tips that result in seizures.
A ZATCA statement from March 2025 described a seizure of 49,929 Captagon pills at Duba Port hidden inside wooden tables as part of a series of four operations that netted more than 261,000 such pills and 9.8 kilograms of methamphetamine. Those incidents at Duba Port, King Abdulaziz International Airport and Al-Batha Port resulted in three arrests after coordination with narcotics officers. The authority has documented similar patterns of concealment in shipments at Duba Port over multiple years.
In April 2024 ZATCA reported the interception of 1,006,518 Captagon pills at Duba Port inside a consignment labeled as pepper and guava. The authority noted that the seizure followed inspection with security techniques and live detection. Officials then arranged for the arrest of the recipient inside the Kingdom through partnership with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control.
