General Manager of Saudi Customs Salleh bin Manei Al-Khlaiwi has said his department seized 6.7 million kg drugs, 34 million kg narcotic pills and 871,000 tons of counterfeited materials and goods in 2012.
“Rumors that the Dammam Port does not charge merchants fees of inspection operations of the empty containers, unlike that of Jeddah Islamic Port, are not true at all,” Al-Khlaiwi said. “All customs procedures are unified.”
He also denied reports that goods are piling up at various ports.
“Inspection operations are not linked with the issues of compiling goods and we have 90 developed systems for inspection at outlets,” he said.
Imports of Saudi Arabia, said Al-Khlaiwi, amounted to SR 580 billion in 2012, against exports of SR 170 billion.
Referring to smuggling operations across borders, he said: “An exchange of operations is in place on the international level with regional offices of the World Customs Organization playing a pivotal role concerning drug trafficking, chemical materials and commercial cheating,” he said.
871,000 tons of fake goods seized
