(MENAFN- Arab News) DAMMAM: Alert customs officials with the help of latest equipment succeeded in foiling over 8000 attempts to smuggle in banned goods and drugs in 2014.
According to figures provided by the Saudi Customs Department the number of smuggling cases through all the Saudi ports rose by 29 percent at 8410 cases in 2014 compared to 6531 in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Attempts to smuggle contraband goods topped the cases in the Kingdom over the previous two years while violation of origin cases increased by 133 percent last year reaching 21 cases compared to nine the year before.
In addition the cases of goods disposal without authority came in second with a 101 percent rise at 3183 cases against 1583 the year before. There was an 18 percent rise in the smuggling cases of restricted goods (commercial fraud) at 1193 cases in 2014.
Meanwhile cases involving breach of procedures declined by 62 percent amounting to eight cases only in 2014 followed by non-disclosure of cash and precious metals cases which fell by 61 percent at 22 cases compared to 57 cases in 2013.
Smuggling of restricted items also saw a drop last year by 25 percent at 1155 cases comparing to 1536 the year before while there was a 4 percent decline in tax evasion cases recording at 239 in 2014 as against 248 cases in 2013.
Eisa Al-Eisa a spokesman for the Saudi Customs Department said: 'The recent customs' seizures in the first and second quarters highlights the consistent efforts by the department as the first line of defense to prevent the entry of prohibited items.'
The department seized 22 million standard unit fake and counterfeit materials in the second quarter of 2014 compared to 34 million units in the second quarter of 2015 which is a result of the strict application of imports safety system he said.
On drug control Al-Eisa said: 'During the first six months of 2015 more than 19 million narcotic pills and 47 kilograms of other drugs were seized. Moreover all ports have been provided with radiation survey system along with radiation devices for luggage density measuring and currency screening devices and metal detector gates.'
Al-Eisa confirmed that the Kingdom was targeted by gangs of smugglers through innovative ways but the customs officers with their long expertise and modern support tools have been frustrating their attempts by catching and punishing the culprit.