Yemen Monitor/Newsroom
Saudi border guards announced the arrest of a Saudi citizen and approximately 13 Yemeni citizens in separate operations for smuggling the prohibited substance, Qat.
The border guards in Jazan reported the arrest of 5 violators of border security laws from Yemeni nationality for smuggling 120 kilograms of the narcotic plant Qat.
In Asir region of southern Saudi Arabia, Saudi border patrols managed to thwart the smuggling of 270 kilograms of the narcotic plant Qat, while security patrols in Jazan region arrested a citizen for promoting 127 kilograms of the narcotic plant Qat, hidden in a vehicle he was driving in Al-A’aredah governorate. He was arrested and legal procedures were taken against him, and he was referred to the competent authority.
In turn, border patrols of the Saudi border guards in Al-Da’ir sector in the same region arrested 8 violators of Yemeni nationality for smuggling 160 kilograms of the narcotic plant Qat. The initial legal procedures for the violators were completed, and they were handed over with the seized goods to the competent authority.
Saudi Arabia classifies Qat as a narcotic substance and the penalty for narcotics applies to it under Saudi law due to its content of “cathinone, cathine, and tannin,” which are stimulant substances from amphetamines, according to the classification of the World Health Organization.
The penalty for trafficking and smuggling Qat in Saudi Arabia can reach 15 years in prison and no less than 5 years and a fine of 20,000 riyals, in addition to banning the convicted Saudi from traveling abroad and deporting the foreigner from the country permanently according to Article 1 of Ministerial Decision No. 11 for the year 1374 AH.
The penalty for promoting Qat in Saudi Arabia ranges from 5 years to 2 years in prison and a fine of ten thousand riyals according to the provisions of Article 3, while its user is punished with imprisonment from two years to six months according to the provisions of Article 4 of the same law.
The penalty for smuggling and trafficking Qat in Saudi Arabia may reach the death penalty if the conditions stipulated in the Anti-Narcotics Law are met, in addition to imprisoning the Qat seller for 25 years if he has been previously imprisoned twice for the same charge.
