Incident Alert – Multiple Drug Arrests Across Saudi Arabia

Incident Details

Saudi authorities recently conducted multiple drug-related arrests and seizures across the Kingdom, targeting amphetamine sales in Jouf and Najran, qat (khat) smuggling in Asir and Jazan, and hashish smuggling in Al-Dayer. Legal proceedings have begun for all suspects.

Fig 1. Image showing recent drug siezures

Comment. Saudi Arabia has increased efforts to combat drug trafficking in recent years. With multiple production facilities operating out of Syria, the availability of drugs such as the psychostimulant Captagon has increased. Saudi Arabia is estimated to account for 50% of global Captagon consumption. Between 2014 and 2022, the Saudi government reported that they had seized 700 million Captagon tablets from Lebanon, a key smuggling route for drug traffickers in the Middle East.

Assessment. The large quantities of narcotics, particularly Captagon, being intercepted highlights the widespread use and the scale of the drug trade across the Middle East. With the collapse of the Syrian government, the already fragile state potentially faces further destabilisation. The country has been a central hub for Captagon production. Under the Assad regime, the manufacturing of illicit drugs became a critical source of revenue, helping to sustain both the economy and military efforts during the prolonged civil war. While Syria transitions, there is likely to be a power struggle between the various militia and criminal gangs for the production and distribution as they seek to on this lucrative trade. Without a centralised authority to suppress this activity, the industry may become even more challenging to combat. The profits from drug trafficking will empower organised crime networks throughout the region. The groups who are responsible for the transport, distribution, and sale of drugs will gain increased financial resources and influence, leading to heightened levels of terrorist related criminal activity as well as serious health implications across the Middle East. The unchecked nature of this trade in post-Assad Syria threatens to exacerbate regional instability, with the ripple effects felt in neighbouring countries and beyond.