Saudi authorities have disrupted a major amphetamine smuggling attempt at the King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, seizing more than 2.7 million pills hidden inside a shipment of printing paper.
The operation, carried out by the General Directorate of Narcotics Control, resulted in the arrest of individuals linked to the smuggling network. The seized substances were identified as amphetamine tablets, commonly associated with illicit drug trafficking networks operating in the region.
Officials confirmed the pills were concealed in a sophisticated manner within the cargo, underscoring the evolving tactics used by traffickers to evade detection. The shipment was intercepted through coordinated efforts between customs and security agencies at the eastern port.
This seizure adds to a series of recent interdictions targeting narcotics smuggling via Saudi Arabia’s key maritime gateways. In a separate but similar incident last month, authorities thwarted another attempt to smuggle over 11 million amphetamine pills concealed in a food shipment at the same port.
Saudi officials have intensified screening protocols and intelligence-sharing mechanisms in response to persistent regional drug trafficking threats. The country continues to report high volumes of seized narcotics, particularly captagon and amphetamine-type stimulants, destined for markets across the Middle East.
The latest bust highlights the ongoing vigilance of Saudi security forces in combating transnational organized crime. Those apprehended in the Dammam case have been referred to the Public Prosecution for legal proceedings under national anti-narcotics laws.
