Article 52 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
المادة 52 من نظام مكافحة المخدرات والمؤثرات العقلية
The article requires confiscating seized narcotics and anything unlawful to make, hold, sell or use, even if they do not belong to the accused, then destroying them or handing them to a government body under the Implementing Regulations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تصادر المواد المخدرة أو المؤثرات العقلية المضبوطة وكل ما كان صنعه أو اقتنائه أو بيعه أو استعماله غير مشروع، وإن لم تكن هذه المواد عائدة إلى المتهم أو لم تؤد إلى إدانته.
2- تتلف المواد المخدرة أو المؤثرات العقلية التي تصادر، أو تسلم كاملة، أو يسلم جزء منها، إلى أي جهة حكومية للانتفاع بها في الأغراض العلمية أو الصناعية أو الطبية، وفق ما تحدده اللائحة .
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 52 explained in plain English
This article regulates what happens to seized narcotics and psychotropic substances and similar items, in two paragraphs:
Paragraph 1: confiscation
The following are confiscated:
- seized narcotics or psychotropic substances,
- and anything that is unlawful to make, hold, sell or use.
Confiscation takes place even if these substances do not belong to the accused, or did not lead to his conviction. Confiscation here is tied to the nature of the substance itself being unlawful, not to a particular person's conviction being established. Under the definition in Article 1, confiscation means transferring items or funds, or part of them, to state ownership by court judgment, because they are connected to an offense under the Law or derived from it.
Paragraph 2: what happens to confiscated substances
Narcotics or psychotropic substances that are confiscated are either:
- destroyed,
- or handed over in full, or in part, to any government body to be used for scientific, industrial or medical purposes.
All of this is as the Implementing Regulations specify, which set out the details of destruction or handover.
This article comes after Article 51, which requires treating an addict in complete confidentiality, and before Article 53, which deals with confiscating, by court judgment, the tools and means of transport used in the offense, the funds and proceeds derived from it, and land planted with the plants listed in Table No. (4), without prejudice to the rights of others acting in good faith.
Anyone with an interest in items seized in a drug case can consult a lawyer specialized in criminal cases.
Practical example
The competent authorities in Riyadh seize a quantity of narcotic pills in a car, and it is not established that they belong to the driver, and the case does not end in his conviction. The pills are still confiscated under paragraph 1 of Article 52, and then destroyed, or part of them is handed to a government body to be used for medical or scientific purposes under the Implementing 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 52 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
Are drugs confiscated if the accused is not convicted?
Yes. Article 52 provides for confiscating them even if they do not belong to the accused or did not lead to his conviction.
What happens to drugs after they are confiscated?
They are destroyed, or handed over in full or in part to a government body to be used for scientific, industrial or medical purposes, as the Implementing Regulations specify.
More articles on Confiscation and Precautionary Attachment
- Article 53
The article provides for confiscating, by court judgment, the tools and vehicles used in the offense, the funds and proceeds derived from it, and land planted with narcotic plants, without prejudice to the rights of third parties acting in good faith.
مع عدم الإخلال بحقوق الآخرين حسني النية، تصادر بحكم قضائي الأشياء الآتية: 1 - الآلات والأدوات ووسائط النقل المضبوطة التي استخدمت في ارتكاب الجريمة. 2 - الأموال
- Article 54
The article allows the court to order a precautionary attachment on the funds of drug smugglers and traffickers, their spouses and minor children until the case is decided, where evidence or indications show the funds come from a drug offense.
للمحكمة المختصة من تلقاء نفسها أو بناء على طلب من جهة التحقيق في أي مرحلة من مراحله أو حال النظر في القضية -متى توافر لها أسباب مقنعة- أن تحكم بإجراء الحجز التح
- Article 63
The article provides that fine penalties in drug offenses are cumulative and that they do not displace or replace the penalty of confiscation.
تتعدد العقوبات بالغرامة، ولا تجب هذه العقوبات عقوبة المصادرة .
- Article 72
The article provides that a judgment imposing the penalties in the Anti-Narcotics Law does not prejudice what is a lawful right of third parties.
لا يمس الحكم بالعقوبات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام ما يكون حقا مشروعا للغير
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.