Article 5 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
المادة 5 من نظام مكافحة المخدرات والمؤثرات العقلية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 لديها أسباب تدعو للاعتقاد بأن تلك السفينة ترفع علم المملكة. وللدولة المطلوب منها المساعدة اتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة إزاء السفينة أو الأشخاص أو البضائع التي تحملها، بعد التنسيق مع السلطات المختصة في 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 5 explained in plain English
The high seas are areas not subject to the sovereignty of any particular State, and a ship there may be beyond the reach of the Saudi authorities. This article therefore allows the competent authorities in the Kingdom to request the assistance of other States to seize smuggling or illicit trafficking in narcotic or psychotropic substances on a ship on the high seas.
The condition for this request is that the Saudi authorities have grounds to believe that the ship is flying the flag of the Kingdom. The text does not require certainty; the existence of reasonable grounds for this belief is enough.
In return, the State that was asked for assistance may take the necessary measures with respect to:
- the ship itself,
- the persons on board,
- the cargo it carries,
provided that this is done after coordination with the competent authorities in the Kingdom. The assisting State does not act alone, but in coordination with the Saudi bodies.
This article is linked to Article Four, which made the occurrence of the offense on board a ship flying the flag of the Kingdom one of the cases of jurisdiction; if the ship is on the high seas, this article facilitates seizure through international cooperation. Article Six complements it by referring to the rules of jurisdiction in the 1988 United Nations Convention.
Practical example
The Saudi authorities received information that a ship in the open ocean was carrying a shipment of narcotics, and its registration papers indicate that it flies the flag of the Kingdom. Because the ship is far away, the authorities ask a State near it to intercept it, and that State searches it after coordinating with the Saudi authorities.
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 5 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
When does Saudi Arabia ask another State for help in seizing a ship?
When it concerns smuggling or illicit trafficking in narcotics on a ship on the high seas and there are grounds to believe that it flies the flag of the Kingdom.
Does the assisting State act with complete freedom?
It may take the necessary measures with respect to the ship, the persons and the cargo, but after coordinating with the competent authorities in the Kingdom.
More articles on Jurisdiction, International Cooperation and Enforcement
- Article 4
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.
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
- 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.