Article 4 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
المادة 4 من نظام مكافحة المخدرات والمؤثرات العقلية
The article sets the cases in which the Saudi authorities may monitor and pursue those who commit narcotics offenses, inside the Kingdom and on ships and aircraft.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للسلطات المختصة في المملكة مراقبة مرتكبي الجرائم المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام وملاحقتهم في الأحوال الآتية:
1 - إذا وقعت الجريمة داخل إقليم المملكة أو امتدت نتيجة الجريمة أو آثارها إليها.
2 - إذا وقعت الجريمة على متن سفينة ترفع علم المملكة.
3 - إذا وقعت الجريمة على ظهر سفينة أجنبية أثناء مرورها بالبحر الإقليمي للمملكة أو امتدت آثارها أو نتائجها إلى إقليمها.
4 - إذا طلب ربان السفينة أو ممثل دبلوماسي أو موظف قنصلي لدولة علم السفينة مساعدة السلطات المحلية لاتخاذ التدابير اللازمة لمكافحة الاتجار غير المشروع في المخدرات و المؤثرات العقلية وفق ما نصت عليه المادة (السابعة والعشرين) من اتفاقية الأمم المتحدة لقانون البحار.
5 - إذا وقعت الجريمة على متن طائرة ترفع علم 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 4 explained in plain English
This article answers the question: when do the Saudi authorities have jurisdiction to pursue narcotics offenses? It gives them the right to monitor and pursue those who commit the offenses provided for in the Law in five cases:
- If the offense occurred inside the territory of the Kingdom, or occurred outside it but its result or effects extended to it.
- If it occurred on board a ship flying the flag of the Kingdom, wherever it is.
- If it occurred on the deck of a foreign ship while passing through the territorial sea of the Kingdom, or its effects or results extended to its territory.
- If the master of the ship, or a diplomatic representative or consular official of the flag State of the ship, requested the assistance of the local authorities to take the measures necessary to combat illicit trafficking, in accordance with Article twenty-seven of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
- If it occurred on board an aircraft flying the flag of the Kingdom.
Note that Article twenty-seven referred to in paragraph (4) is an article of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, not of this Law.
The offenses meant are the acts listed in Article Three, such as smuggling, possession, use and money laundering. These rules are complemented by later articles: Article Five allows other States to be asked for assistance regarding a ship on the high seas believed to be flying the flag of the Kingdom, and Article Six makes the rules of jurisdiction in the 1988 United Nations Convention complementary to and clarifying of these rules.
Practical example
A cargo ship flying the flag of the Kingdom was in a foreign port, and it was discovered that one of its sailors was hiding a quantity of narcotics on it. Under paragraph (2), the Saudi authorities may pursue him because the offense occurred on board a ship flying the flag of the Kingdom, even though it was outside its waters.
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 4 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
Does Saudi Arabia pursue a narcotics offense that occurred outside it?
Yes, in cases including where the result or effects of the offense extend to the Kingdom, or where it occurs on a ship or aircraft flying the flag of the Kingdom.
What is the position on a narcotics offense on a foreign ship in Saudi waters?
The authorities may pursue it if it occurred while the ship was passing through the territorial sea of the Kingdom, or its effects or results extended to its territory.
Is Article 27 mentioned in paragraph four part of the narcotics law?
No. It is the twenty-seventh article of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, as stated in the text.
More articles on Jurisdiction, International Cooperation and Enforcement
- Article 5
The article allows the Saudi authorities to request the help of other States to seize drug smuggling on a ship on the high seas believed to be flying the flag of the Kingdom.
للسلطات المختصة في المملكة أن تطلب مساعدة دول أخرى لضبط التهريب أو الاتجار غير المشروع في المخدرات أو المؤثرات العقلية على سفينة في أعالي البحار متى توافرت لديه
- Article 6
The article makes the jurisdiction rules in Articles 4 and 17 of the 1988 United Nations Convention complementary to and clarifying of the jurisdiction rules in the Law.
تعد قواعد الاختصاص -الواردة في المادتين (الرابعة) و(السابعة عشر) من اتفاقية الأمم المتحدة لعام 1988م، بشأن الاختصاص بملاحقة جرائم المخدرات أو المؤثرات العقلية ا
- Article 7
The article requires the authorities to pursue and punish a Saudi who commits an Article Three offense outside the Kingdom if it is punishable there and he was not pursued or punished for it.
1- على السلطات المختصة في المملكة ملاحقة ومعاقبة أي مواطن سعودي أقدم -خارج المملكة- على ارتكاب جريمة من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في المادة ( الثالثة ) من هذا النظا
- Article 8
The article requires the authorities to pursue anyone who participates in, incites, assists in or attempts outside the Kingdom an Article Three offense if the intention is to facilitate its commission inside the Kingdom.
على السلطات المختصة في المملكة اتخاذ الإجراءات وملاحقة الأشخاص المتهمين بالاشتراك الجرمي والمساهمة الأصلية أو التبعية أو عن طريق المساعدة بالتدخل أو التحريض أو
- Article 9
The article requires the Saudi authorities to provide mutual legal assistance under the laws and agreements to which the Kingdom is a party, and to observe the principle of reciprocity.
تلتزم السلطات المختصة في المملكة بتقديم المساعدة القانونية المتبادلة وفقا للأنظمة واللوائح والاتفاقيات التي تكون المملكة طرفا فيها، كما تلتزم بمبدأ المعاملة بال
- Article 10
The article refers to the Implementing Regulations the body competent for legal assistance requests, their form and contents, accepting, refusing or postponing them, and the conditions for their use.
تحدد اللائحة الجهة المخولة بالنظر في طلبات المساعدة وشكلها ومحتوياتها والاستجابة لها أو رفضها أو تأجيلها وشروط استخدامها.
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.