Saudi Arabia’s Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) has once again stopped the smuggling attempt to smuggle a major drug, this time, 406,400 captain pills are hidden inside the sheep wool in the Haditha Seema crossing. As the operations of smuggling become more misleading, Saudi authorities have continued to ramping, security protocol and international cooperation in an incredible campaign against one of the most dangerous drugs in the region.
Major seizure in Haditha Crossing – Attempted latest smuggling
On Friday, officials of Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) at Haditha Border Port, Northern Saudi Arabia, highlighted a large shipment of Emfatemin tablets known as a captain hidden in a livestock consignment. Bullets, a total of 406,400, were hidden within the sheep wool, a strategy designed to bypass traditional inspections. Shipment was declared as livestock, and during standard customs procedures, ZATCA deployed safety screening technologies and K9 units, which successfully flagged the suspected cargo. After the seizure, Zatca coordinated with the General Directorate of Drug Control, which led to the arrest of three persons, which were determined to obtain the control within the state. This outlines the growing simplicity of bust trafficers, as well as increasing pressure on border control systems of Saudi Arabia to be ahead of such a strategy.
ZATCA’s anti-smuggling capabilities and national security mandate
The ZATCA, formed through the merger of 2021 of the general authority of the general authority of the Saudi Customs Authority, has played an extended role in protecting the state from illegal trade, especially drugs. Authority operates on 48 air, land and sea ports, including:
- King Abdulziz port in Damam – the largest maritime entrance
- Raja Khalid International Airport in Riyadh – A major aviation hub
Al-Hedita Border Portso, at the land crossing including the largest land port of Di Arabia, connects the Kingdom to Kingdom and Levant to the Gulf states of Arabia. Zatca continuously inspects. The Al-Hedita port strategically located in the al-Jawf province in the Al-Kureyat Governor, with a 745 km stretch of the border of Jordan, it is an important checkpoint for inbound cargo from the north. Zatca employs a combination of technologies and processes:
- X-ray scanner for full-concenter and package inspection
- AI-Trained Risk Evaluation System to identify high-risk shipments
- K9 detection units are trained to identify drugs, explosives and undeclared cash
- Manual inspection and coordination with national drug control agencies
Beyond the intoxicants, Zatca implements a ban on public safety, religious values, or economic interests such as arms, alcohol, fake goods and unlicensed drugs. Authority also encourages public participation by enabling anonymous tips through a hotline (1910), email ()[email protected]), And an international line (+9661910). Verified reports can earn monetary awards and are confidentially handled.
Background on Captain – Original, Risk and Illegal Trade Network
Captain, originally developed under pharmaceutical name Fanthathillin in 1961, was aimed at treating a condition known as Narcolepsy, depression and “minimal brain laxity”. It was discontinued in the 1980s when governments including the United States classified it as a controlled substance, with no approved medical use. However, illegal manufacturing has increased, especially in Syria and parts of Lebanon, where weakened enforcement allows clandstine labs. Modern fake captain pills are often:
- Aftamine and caffeine
- Other unknown or toxic additives
- Excessive addictive components that are in results:
- Excitement
- Improvisation
- Mental volatility
- Increased aggression
Its popularity as a stimulant has led to nicknames such as “jihadi drug” and “poor man’s cocaine”, reflecting both its use and its low production costs in the struggle areas. The Middle East is a hotspot for the consumption of the Captain:
- High demand between young and prosperous users
- Collision
- Large -scale profit margin for smugglers and smugglers groups
Saudi Arabia, due to its geographical proximity and economic condition, remains a top destination for Captain Traffickors.
Recently seized and Saudi Arabia’s expansion crack
Haditha seizure is the latest in a range of major busts made by Zatca in recent weeks only:
- On June 27, 2025, on officials
Jeddah Islamic Port Exposed a major shipment of Captain bullets hidden inside the wardrobe. The seizure included a total of 732,015 bullets and was made possible through the use of joint advanced security technologies with fully manual inspections. After the discovery, Zatca immediately alerted the general directorate of drug control, resulting in the arrest of four persons, who were the recipients of drugs within Saudi Arabia.
- On July 26, 2025, Saudi authorities thwarted two separate efforts of smuggling more than 69,000 captain pills through airports. The seizures took place at King Abdulzes International Airport in Jeddah and Raja Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. In both cases, the smugglers hid bullets inside the lining of the luggage, which performed the growing sophistication in their smuggling methods.
The methods of general smuggling seen in recent years have been included:
- Canned foods, chocolate bar filled bullets
- Vehicle parts, hidden inside industrial machinery
- Human courier (“mule”)
- Embedded in furniture or textiles, as the latest sheep wool hiding
Saudi Arabia’s approach to deal with this issue is not limited to boundaries. The government has expanded its international cooperation, including:
- Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Joint Work Force
- Interpol led by targeting global trafficking network
- Mousse with neighboring states to share intelligence and coordinate reactions
In 2023, Saudi Arabia hosted a regional Captain Summit, which advocates an integrated strategy throughout the region to disrupt manufacturing and distribution pipelines.
Legal framework and zero-tolerance policy
Saudi Arabia applies one of the world’s most strict anti-nashi laws, and punishment for smuggling drugs is serious:
- Long jail sentence
- Heavy financial punishment
- Exile for foreign nationals
- In severe cases, for death penalty, especially for crimes or large -scale crimes
These laws reflect the government’s stance of zero-tolerance and priority to protect public health, national security and economic integrity.
