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The Zakat Tax and Customs Authority recorded 1210 seizures of prohibited items at the Kingdom’s land sea and air customs ports over the past week the authority said in a statement released on August 2 2026. Those operations netted 88 narcotics related cases that involved cannabis cocaine heroin methamphetamine Captagon pills and other illicit drugs. The authority’s data further detailed 402 additional prohibited items intercepted during the same period as part of sustained efforts to curb smuggling across all entry points.
ZATCA figures show that customs officers also seized 2425 tobacco products and derivatives in the seven day span while uncovering 18 cases of undeclared cash. Three separate cases involved weapons and related items the authority reported. Such breakdowns illustrate the range of contraband targeted at busy border facilities where inspections have intensified in recent years.
According to the Saudi Press Agency which has carried comparable weekly updates ZATCA operations have repeatedly yielded hundreds to thousands of seizures in similar periods with one earlier assessment noting more than 1900 interventions in a single week. The latest results align with that pattern and reflect ongoing collaboration among customs teams at multiple ports. ZATCA has maintained that these controls form a core element of its mandate to protect public health and national security.
In its announcement the authority stated it will continue tightening customs controls on all prohibited and restricted goods to safeguard society and combat smuggling. ZATCA also urged members of the public to report any suspected smuggling offenses through dedicated channels emphasizing that such reports remain confidential. Informants can qualify for financial rewards once cases are verified and resolved the statement added.
The Zakat Tax and Customs Authority’s website lists a broad array of prohibited passenger items that include all forms of pills intoxicants and drugs as well as immoral storage devices counterfeit currency fireworks and prohibited chewing tobacco. Those categories match the types recovered in the latest weekly tally. Officials have consistently reminded travelers that failure to declare such goods can lead to confiscation fines or referral to prosecution.
This most recent operation underscores the scale of weekly customs activity at Saudi ports which handle millions of travelers and shipments annually. ZATCA has expanded its risk based inspection systems in the past several years to focus resources on high threat routes while facilitating legitimate trade. The authority’s periodic public releases aim to deter potential smugglers by highlighting both the volume and variety of successful interceptions.
