Article 2 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
المادة 2 من نظام مكافحة المخدرات والمؤثرات العقلية
The article excludes emergency and first-aid medicines containing narcotic substances carried on ships and aircraft from importation, exportation and smuggling, on specific conditions.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يعد جلبا أو تصديرا أو تهريبا الكميات المحددة من الأدوية الطبية التي تحتوي على مواد مخدرة أو مؤثرات عقلية تحملها وسائط النقل، كالسفن والطائرات، لمواجهة الحالات الطارئة والإسعافات الأولية، بشرط أن يكون مصرحا بها في الدولة التي تحمل واسطة النقل علمها أو جنسيتها، وأن يعلن المسئول عن واسطة النقل عما يكون بها من تلك المواد حال وصولها إلى المملكة وعند مغادرتها. وتحدد اللائحة وسائط النقل المعنية بهذا الاستثناء، والحد الأقصى لمقادير الأدوية أو المستحضرات التي يجوز أن تحملها، ونسبة المادة المخدرة أو المؤثر العقلي فيها، والضوابط اللازمة للحيلولة دون تسربها من واسطة النقل حال وجودها داخل إقليم المملكة. وتعد هذه الأدوية أو المستحضرات في حكم المواد المخدرة أو المؤثرات العقلية المصرح بمرورها عبر المملكة.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 2 explained in plain English
This article deals with a practical situation: ships and aircraft usually carry emergency and first-aid medicines, and some of them contain narcotic or psychotropic substances. If the definitions in Article One were applied literally, their entry into the Kingdom would count as "importation" and their departure as "exportation". The article therefore provides that these quantities do not count as importation, exportation or smuggling, on two conditions:
- These medicines must be authorized in the State whose flag or nationality the means of transport carries.
- The person in charge of the means of transport must declare what it carries of these substances upon arrival in the Kingdom and upon departure.
The exception is limited to the specified quantities intended to meet emergencies and first aid, and does not cover any quantity carried for another purpose.
The article refers four matters to the Implementing Regulations: the means of transport covered by the exception, the maximum quantities of medicines or preparations that may be carried, the proportion of the narcotic or psychotropic substance in them, and the controls that prevent their leakage from the means of transport while it is within the territory of the Kingdom. These details are not known from the text of the article itself, but from the Regulations.
These medicines are treated like narcotic or psychotropic substances authorized to pass through the Kingdom, meaning that their presence is temporary and tied to the transit of the means of transport. This article comes as an exception to the criminalized acts listed in Article Three, which include importation, exportation and smuggling.
Practical example
An aircraft of a foreign airline lands at Jeddah airport carrying a first-aid kit containing a strong painkiller that contains a narcotic substance, authorized in the aircraft's State. The captain or the person in charge of the aircraft declares this medicine upon arrival and upon departure, so its presence does not count as importation or smuggling, as long as the quantity is within the limits set by the Regulations.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 2 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
Is carrying narcotic first-aid medicines on an aircraft considered smuggling?
It does not count as importation, exportation or smuggling if the quantities are those specified for emergencies, are authorized in the State of the aircraft's flag, and the person in charge declares them upon arrival and departure.
Who sets the quantity allowed of these medicines?
The article refers to the Implementing Regulations the setting of the maximum quantities, the proportion of the narcotic substance in them and the means of transport covered.
What if the person in charge of the ship does not declare the narcotic medicines?
Declaring upon arrival and departure is one of the conditions of the exception, so if it is not met, one of its conditions is not satisfied.
More articles on Narcotics Definitions and Schedules
- Article 1
The article defines the key terms of the Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law, such as narcotic substances, psychotropic substances, importation, possession, holding, money laundering and confiscation.
يقصد بالألفاظ والعبارات الآتية -أينما وردت في هذا النظام- المعاني المبينة أمامها، ما لم يقتض السياق خلاف ذلك : المواد المخدرة : كل مادة طبيعية أو مركبة أو مصنعة
- Article 69
The article tasks the Ministries of Interior, Justice and Health with preparing the Implementing Regulations within 180 days of the Law taking effect, to be issued by Council of Ministers decision and published in the Official Gazette.
تعد وزارة الداخلية ووزارة العدل و وزارة الصحة ، اللائحة التنفيذية لهذا النظام، خلال مئة وثمانين يوما بعد العمل بهذا النظام، وتصدر بقرار من مجلس الوزراء ، وتنشر
- Article 70
The article gives the Minister of Health the power to amend the tables attached to the Law by adding substances, deleting some, or changing their order or proportions, with the amendment published in the Official Gazette.
لوزير الصحة أن يعدل الجداول المرافقة لهذا النظام، بإضافة مواد جديدة إليها أو حذف بعض المواد المذكورة فيها أو إجراء تغيير عليها في الترتيب أو النسب، وينشر ذلك في
- Article 71
The article provides that the tables attached to the Anti-Narcotics Law and their amendments are an integral part of it, with the force of the Law itself.
تعد الجداول المرافقة لهذا النظام، وتعديلاتها، جزءا لا يتجزأ منه.
- Article 73
The article repeals the Law on Preventing Trafficking in Narcotics or Psychotropic Substances issued by Royal Order No. 3318 dated 9/4/1353 AH, and every provision that conflicts with the new Law.
يلغي هذا النظام نظام منع الاتجار بالمواد المخدرة أو المؤثرات العقلية الصادر بالأمر السامي ذي الرقم 3318 والتاريخ 9 / 4 / 1353 هـ وكل ما يتعارض معه من أحكام.
- Article 74
The article provides for publishing the Anti-Narcotics Law in the Official Gazette and for it to take effect 90 days after the date of its publication.
ينشر هذا النظام في الجريدة الرسمية ، ويعمل به بعد تسعين يوما من تاريخ نشره.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.