Saudi authorities bust qat smuggling operation in Jazan

Saudi border guards (AFP)
Short Url
Updated 22 December 2023
Follow

Saudi authorities bust qat smuggling operation in Jazan

  • Qat is a flowering shrub native to the Arabian Peninsula. Individuals chew qat leaves because of the stimulant effects it has, which are like but less intense than those caused by abusing cocaine or methamphetamine

JAZAN: Saudi border guards in Al-Ardah governate of Jazan region foiled an attempt to smuggle 400 kilograms of the narcotic qat.
The seized narcotics were handed over to the competent authority, and preliminary legal procedures were completed, state news agency Saudi Press Agency reported.
Qat is a flowering shrub native to the Arabian Peninsula. Individuals chew qat leaves for its stimulant effects, which are less intense than those caused by abusing cocaine or methamphetamine.
Saudi authorities on Saturday also thwarted an attempt to smuggle more than 6 million Captagon tablets into the country in an operation carried out in cooperation with the Omani police and the Saudi Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority.
The amphetamine pills were found hidden in a shipment of sweets, citrus fruits and nuts.
Security authorities have urged people to report any activities related to drug smuggling or promotion by calling 911 in the Makkah, Riyadh and Eastern Province regions, and 999 for the rest of the Kingdom’s regions.

 

The Kingdom vs Captagon
Inside Saudi Arabia's war against the drug destroying lives across the Arab world

Enter


keywords

First Saudi State’s economy laid foundation for modern stability

Updated 23 February 2026
Follow

First Saudi State’s economy laid foundation for modern stability

  • Revived commerce in Arabian Peninsula, according to historian
  • Diriyah highlighted as premier political and commercial center

RIYADH: The economy of the First Saudi State served as a fundamental pillar in building the nation, consolidating its influence, and ensuring its stability, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.

The main features of this economy is outlined in the book “Diriyah: Origins and Development during the First Saudi State,” by Dr. Abdullah Al-Saleh Al-Othaimeen, the SPA reported.

The measures taken in those early days helped to ensure security, unify regions, and organize society. This assisted in stimulating trade, stabilizing markets, and enhancing life in Diriyah and surrounding areas.

 

Beyond its political and intellectual prominence, Diriyah emerged as a vibrant economic hub. (SPA)

The book, published by the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, outlines how these actions facilitated the arrival of caravans, secured vast trade routes, and revived commerce across the Arabian Peninsula.

Beyond its political and intellectual prominence, Diriyah emerged as a vibrant economic hub. Its markets attracted merchants and students from across the region.

The local community relied on diverse activities including trade, agriculture, and livestock breeding, with horses and camels playing crucial roles in transportation, commerce, and securing roads.

Economic growth during this founding phase “solidified Diriyah’s position as a premier political and commercial center in the Arabian Peninsula,” the SPA reported