Article 61 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
المادة 61 من نظام مكافحة المخدرات والمؤثرات العقلية
The article exempts from the penalties for Article 3 offenses any offender, other than an inciter, who takes the initiative to report the offense to the public authorities, on conditions that differ depending on whether the authorities already knew of it.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعفى من العقوبات المقررة عن الجرائم المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثالثة) من هذا النظام، كل من بادر من الجناة -ما لم يكن محرضا على الجريمة- بإبلاغ السلطات العامة عن الجريمة قبل علمها بها. فإذا حصل البلاغ عن الجريمة بعد وصولها إلى علم السلطات تعين لإعفاء المبلغ أن يؤدي بلاغه إلى ضبط باقي الجناة ما دام ذلك ممكنا.
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 61 explained in plain English
This article encourages a person who has been involved in a drug offense to disclose it to the authorities, and provides for exemption from the penalties set for the offenses in Article 3 of the Law. These include smuggling, bringing in, possessing, selling, transporting, using and brokering narcotics or psychotropic substances, cultivating the plants listed in Table No. (4), laundering funds obtained from them, and participating in or attempting these acts.
The article distinguishes between two cases:
- A report before the authorities learn of the offense: an offender who takes the initiative to report the offense to the public authorities before they learn of it is exempted.
- A report after the authorities learn of the offense: the report alone is not enough; for exemption it is required that the report lead to the arrest of the remaining offenders, as long as that is possible.
The text expressly excepts an inciter of the offense, so a person who incited another to commit it does not benefit from this exemption.
The exemption here concerns the penalties set for Article 3 offenses, and differs from the rule in Article 60, which allows the court, for valid reasons, to go below the minimum prison penalty in specific articles or suspend its execution, without exempting from the penalty.
Anyone considering reporting an offense in which he took part, or who wants to know whether the exemption applies to his situation, should consult a lawyer specialized in criminal and drug cases.
Practical example
Khaled agreed with two other persons to transport a quantity of narcotics within Riyadh, then backed out before the authorities knew anything, and took the initiative to report the offense to the security authorities. Here Khaled may benefit from the exemption because he reported before the authorities knew and was not an inciter. Had the authorities already learned of the offense before his report, then for his exemption his report would have to lead to the arrest of his two partners, as long as that is possible.
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 61 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
Is a person who reports a drug offense he took part in exempted?
Yes. An offender who takes the initiative to report the offense to the public authorities before they learn of it is exempted from the penalties set for Article 3 offenses, unless he was an inciter.
What if the police already knew of the offense before the report?
Then for the reporter to be exempted, his report must lead to the arrest of the remaining offenders, as long as that is possible.
Does an inciter of the offense benefit from the exemption?
No. The article expressly excepts a person who was an inciter of the offense.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Participation, Attempt and Mitigation
- 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 58
The article punishes anyone who takes part, by agreement, incitement or assistance, in the acts in paragraphs 1 to 5 of Article 3 with the penalty set for the offense itself.
يعاقب بالعقوبة المقررة على الجريمة نفسها، كل من شارك في ارتكاب أي من الأفعال المنصوص عليها في الفقرات 5،4،3،2،1 من المادة (الثالثة) من هذا النظام، سواء أكانت هذ
- Article 59
The article punishes attempting the Article 38(1) offenses with up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to SAR 50,000, attempting other offenses with up to half the maximum penalties, and allows the court to add flogging.
1 - يعاقب على الشروع في أي جريمة من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في الفقرة رقم (1) من المادة (الثامنة والثلاثين) من هذا النظام، بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على عشر سنوات، وبغرا
- Article 60
The article allows the court, for valid reasons, to go below the minimum prison penalty in Articles 37 to 41 and to suspend the prison sentence imposed under Article 48, and explains the effects of the suspension.
1 – للمحكمة -ولأسباب معتبرة، أو إذا ظهر لها من أخلاق المحكوم عليه أو ماضيه أو سنه أو ظروفه الشخصية أو الظروف التي ارتكبت فيها الجريمة أو غير ذلك مما يبعث على ال
- Article 62
The article provides that a person who committed several drug offenses before a final judgment is tried for the one with the heaviest penalty and receives only that penalty, and that the heavier penalty applies if this Law and another law both punish the act.
1 - إذا ارتكب شخص عدة جرائم معاقب عليها بموجب أحكام هذا النظام قبل صدور حكم نهائي بحقه عن أي واحده منها، وجب محاكمته على الجريمة ذات العقوبة الأشد والحكم بعقوبت
- 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 .
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.