
From Pills To Pistols: Inside Saudi Arabia's Latest Customs Busts
Among the confiscated items were 116 types of narcotic substances, including hashish, cocaine, heroin, shabu, and Captagon pills, as well as 683 other prohibited items. Authorities also seized 2,114 units of tobacco and its derivatives, 61 instances of undeclared cash, and eight types of weapons and related accessories.
The Authority reaffirmed its commitment to tightening customs controls on all imports and exports, working closely with partner agencies to safeguard the Kingdom and its people.
Citizens are encouraged to support efforts to combat smuggling by reporting suspicious activities. Tips can be submitted confidentially through the hotline 1910, via email at [email protected], or by calling the international number +966 1910. Informants may be eligible for a financial reward if the information provided proves accurate.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arab Times
4 days ago
- Arab Times
Follow-Up: From Grandfather to Grandson, Entire Lineage of Drug Pusher Proven Fake Kuwaitis
KUWAIT CITY, July 25: A massive citizenship fraud scheme spanning three generations has been dramatically exposed in Kuwait following the arrest of a major drug trafficker caught red-handed with one million Captagon pills. What began as a drug bust has now turned into one of the country's largest cases of identity forgery, with 87 individuals stripped of their Kuwaiti nationality. The elaborate scam came to light after authorities apprehended Zaid bin Fulan bin Allan, a suspected drug dealer, who was found in possession of Gulf identity documents under a different name. The investigation, carried out by Kuwait's Anti-Narcotics Department in collaboration with the Nationality Investigations Department, revealed that Zaid had purchased Kuwaiti citizenship for 15,000 dinars from a man with no real connection to him. As the probe deepened, investigators discovered that Zaid was not the biological son of the man listed on his Kuwaiti papers. That man—whose name is being withheld for legal reasons—eventually admitted during interrogation that the two were strangers. The trail led back to 1994, when both the man and his father, Allan, were arrested by the Salmiya Investigations Department for possessing forged Gulf identity documents. However, no decision was made in the case for nearly a decade. In 2002, the Council of Ministers finally revoked their citizenship. But just a year later, the duo successfully lobbied (via National Assembly MPs and political pressure) to have it reinstated in 2005. This restoration, it turns out, laid the foundation for a web of forgeries that would mushroom over the next two decades. Official records uncovered by the Supreme Nationality Committee show that both the father and grandfather used completely different names on their Gulf and Kuwaiti ID cards. Old confession records from 1994 were recovered and re-examined during a high-level meeting held last Thursday, confirming that both men had knowingly obtained Kuwaiti nationality through fraudulent means. The investigation also exposed an even more tangled deception: one of the men had added an Iraqi woman to his family file under a fake Kuwaiti name, 'Noura,' when her real name was 'Amal.' Amal later claimed her son as her brother, registering him as the child of Allan, effectively granting him Kuwaiti citizenship as well. This intricate web of fake birth certificates, forged identities, and fraudulent affiliations led to a staggering 87 people being linked to the forged lineage, all of whom have now lost their citizenship. As of now, the main drug dealer remains behind bars, the man who initially sold the citizenship is deceased, and Allan (the grandfather at the heart of the scheme) is currently imprisoned on separate forgery charges. Authorities have described the case as a textbook example of 'hereditary structural forgery'—a sophisticated, long-running scam that falsely embedded three generations into Kuwaiti society through falsified documents and political maneuvering. The investigation is ongoing, with officials vowing to crack down on all similar cases buried in the nation's files.

Kuwait Times
4 days ago
- Kuwait Times
Police foil attempt to smuggle 4m Captagon pills into Kuwait
Police foil attempt to smuggle 4m Captagon pills into Kuwait KUWAIT: The Ministry of Interior said Wednesday that agents of the criminal investigations sector were able to foil an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of psychostimulant substance worth KD 12 million (nearly USD 39.35 million) into Kuwait. The seizure, amounting to four million Captagon (fenethylline) pills, was hidden in an unconventional way inside water treatment pipes, according to a statement from the Ministry's General Directorate of Security Relations and Media. The security clampdown took place under supervision of First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah and in cooperation with the General Administration of Customs and Kuwait Fire Force. Acting on tips, the security services arranged with the customs authorities to facilitate the entry of the consignment into Kuwait, kept watching the route it took, and then arrested one of culprits red-handed. The main culprit is abroad and the Kuwaiti authorities are in contact with the authorities of the country he is residing in as a prelude to a legal action against him, the statement noted. The consignment took a tricky route before arriving in Kuwait; it was smuggled to an Arab country and to a European one before its final destination, the statement said. The Ministry of interior appreciated the cooperation with the anti-drug agencies of the concerned countries that led to the successful clampdown. — KUNA


Arab Times
5 days ago
- Arab Times
4 Million Captagon Pills Found Hidden in Water Pipes
KUWAIT CITY, July 23: As part of ongoing nationwide efforts to combat drug trafficking and safeguard public health, Kuwait's Criminal Security Sector—represented by the General Department for Drug Control—has successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle a massive quantity of psychotropic substances into the country. In a coordinated operation with the General Administration of Customs and the General Fire Force, authorities seized approximately 4 million Captagon pills, concealed innovatively inside water treatment pipes. The estimated street value of the haul is around KD 12 million. The operation began when the General Department for Drug Control received confidential intelligence about an attempt to smuggle a large shipment of Captagon into the country using unconventional methods. In response, immediate coordination was initiated with Customs to allow the shipment to clear entry points, enabling authorities to monitor its movement and identify the culprits. As a result, one suspect was arrested inside Kuwait. Meanwhile, the primary suspect was located abroad. The Ministry of Interior confirmed that coordination is underway with a counterpart drug control agency in a foreign country to apprehend the individual and initiate legal proceedings. Investigations revealed that the shipment had traveled through an Arab country and then passed through a European country—intended as a tactic to obscure its origin—before arriving in Kuwait. The Ministry of Interior praised the effective collaboration among all agencies involved in this high-profile seizure. It reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to continue its nationwide crackdown on drug smuggling and trafficking networks, vowing zero tolerance toward anyone who endangers the country's security or public safety.