Saudi customs foils cocaine smuggling attempt at Jeddah Islamic Port

JEDDAH — Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) thwarted an attempt to smuggle 8.4 kilograms of cocaine through Jeddah Islamic Port.ZATCA spokesperson Hammoud Al Harbi said the narcotics were discovered hidden inside the air-conditioning compartment of a container arriving in the Kingdom.The drugs were detected after the container underwent customs procedures and inspection using security technologies and live detection methods.Al Harbi said the authority continues to tighten customs control across all ports to combat smuggling attempts and enhance community security in coordination with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control.He urged the public to support anti-smuggling efforts by reporting violations through the authority’s designated security hotline, email, or international contact number, noting that reports are handled confidentially and may qualify for financial rewards if verified.