Article 22 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law

المادة 22 من نظام مكافحة المخدرات والمؤثرات العقلية

The article bars appointing as custodian of narcotic substances anyone sentenced for the hadd of intoxication or for a narcotics offense or one involving dishonor or breach of trust, or dismissed by a disciplinary ruling for that.

Official text (Arabic)

This article has not been amended since the law was issued.

لا يجوز تعيين أي شخص يكون مسئولا عن عهدة المواد المخدرة أو المؤثرات العقلية في المنشآت المرخص لها إذا كان من الأشخاص الآتي بيانهم:

1 - من حكم عليه بحد السكر.

2 - من حكم عليه بجريمة تتصل بالمواد المخدرة أو المؤثرات العقلية .

3 - من حكم عليه بجريمة مخلة بالشرف أو الأمانة.

4 - من سبق فصله من وظيفة عامة بحكم تأديبي لأسباب مخلة بالشرف أو الأمانة.

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 22 explained in plain English

Custody of narcotic and psychotropic substances is a sensitive responsibility, so the Law was not content to require a qualification, but set out in this article bars that prevent appointing particular persons as responsible for custody in licensed establishments. The following may not be appointed:

Anyone sentenced for the hadd of intoxication.
Anyone sentenced for an offense connected with narcotic or psychotropic substances.
Anyone sentenced for an offense involving dishonor or breach of trust.
Anyone previously dismissed from a public post by a disciplinary ruling for reasons involving dishonor or breach of trust.

Note that the first three bars are tied to the issuing of a sentence, so mere accusation or investigation is not enough according to the text. The fourth bar concerns dismissal from a public post by a disciplinary ruling, and requires that the dismissal be for reasons involving dishonor or breach of trust; disciplinary dismissal for other reasons is not mentioned in the text. The article does not set a period after which the bar lapses, and that cannot be inferred from the text.

These bars apply to the person who takes on custody under Article Twenty-One, namely the Saudi pharmacist or pharmacy technician in warehouses, drug factories and treatment institutions, and the head of nursing or his delegate in the inpatient wards. After it comes Article Twenty-Three, which requires licensed establishments to register these substances and monitor their dispensing. Anyone facing a bar on appointment because of a previous sentence would do well to consult a lawyer specialized in administrative cases.

Practical example

A Saudi pharmacist applied for the post of person responsible for the custody of narcotic medicines in a drug warehouse in Jeddah, and it turned out that he had previously been sentenced for an offense connected with psychotropic substances. The warehouse may not appoint him to this post under paragraph (2).

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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