Saudi Arabia has thwarted an attempt to smuggle over 12 million Captagon pills, which were found hidden in a cocoa shipment arriving at the Islamic Port of Jeddah. The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority reported that the seizure occurred after the cocoa shipment underwent customs procedures and was inspected using security technologies at the port. The pills were skillfully concealed within the cocoa beans, and those receiving the seized drugs inside Saudi Arabia were arrested in coordination with the Narcotics Control Directorate.
In August, the authority foiled two attempts to smuggle a large quantity of Captagon pills into Saudi Arabia through the Islamic Port of Jeddah; in the first attempt, over 8.7 million pills were found hidden in a cocoa shipment, and in the second, 1.6 million pills were hidden inside a truck's floor.
The authority affirmed its commitment to tightening customs oversight on imports to Saudi Arabia and standing firm against smuggling attempts, fulfilling one of its primary missions related to community security and protection. It also works to unify efforts with the Narcotics Control Directorate to enhance the effectiveness of the methodology adopted by both entities to combat drug trafficking in all its forms.
The authority called for public cooperation in combating smuggling to protect society and the national economy by contacting them through official channels, which allow for the reception of reports related to smuggling crimes and violations of the Unified Customs Law in complete confidentiality, along with a financial reward for informants if the information is accurate.
