Article 9 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
المادة 9 من نظام مكافحة المخدرات والمؤثرات العقلية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تلتزم السلطات المختصة في المملكة بتقديم المساعدة القانونية المتبادلة وفقا للأنظمة واللوائح والاتفاقيات التي تكون المملكة طرفا فيها، كما تلتزم بمبدأ المعاملة بالمثل.
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 9 explained in plain English
Narcotics offenses often cross the borders of a single State, with the evidence in one country, the accused in another and the funds in a third. This article therefore places two obligations on the competent authorities in the Kingdom:
- Providing mutual legal assistance to other States, to be done in accordance with the laws, regulations and agreements to which the Kingdom is a party. The assistance is not unlimited, but governed by these references.
- Observing the principle of reciprocity, meaning that the Kingdom deals with the other State in the way that State deals with it.
The article does not describe the forms of legal assistance in detail, nor does it state the body competent to receive requests or its procedures. Article Ten deals with this by referring it to the Implementing Regulations, which set the body authorized to consider requests for assistance, their form and contents, responding to them, refusing them or postponing them, and the conditions for their use.
This article is part of a group of provisions regulating the international dimension of combating narcotics, including Article Eight on pursuing those who take part from abroad in preparing for offenses inside the Kingdom. Mutual assistance is a practical tool that helps carry out such pursuit.
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 9 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
What is meant by mutual legal assistance in narcotics cases?
It is legal cooperation between the Kingdom and other States in these cases, provided by the authorities in accordance with the laws, regulations and agreements to which the Kingdom is a party.
What does reciprocity mean in this article?
That the Kingdom, in its cooperation with another State, commits to the level at which that State treats it.
Who sets the procedures for assistance requests?
Article Ten refers that to the Implementing Regulations of the Law.
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 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 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.