The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (Zatca) in Saudi Arabia successfully prevented a major drug trafficking attempt at the Jeddah Islamic Port this past Saturday. Officials discovered 58.6kg of methamphetamine cleverly stashed within a large shipment of men's shoes. By utilizing a combination of high-tech security scanners and highly trained sniffer dogs, customs agents were able to flag the illicit cargo during a routine inspection, effectively stopping the narcotics before they could enter the local market.

Following the initial seizure, Zatca worked closely with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control to launch a sting operation aimed at locating the individuals behind the shipment. This strategic collaboration resulted in the arrest of three suspects residing within the Kingdom. This success is part of a broader, ongoing initiative to curb cross-border drug smuggling, building on recent intelligence-sharing efforts with regional partners like the UAE. By maintaining strong operational integration and constant vigilance, Saudi authorities continue to bolster their defense against organized criminal syndicates and the regional drug trade.