Article 122 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
المادة 122 من نظام قانون الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية · الفصل الأول: التحري عن التهريب
Customs employees must combat smuggling and may inspect goods and means of transport and search persons; women are searched only by female inspectors, and searching houses needs sufficient evidence and permission.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
أ - على موظفي الإدارة مكافحة التهريب ، ولهم في سبيل ذلك أن يقوموا بالكشف على البضائع ووسائط النقل وتفتيش الأشخاص وفقا لأحكام هذا النظام " القانون " والأنظمة " القوانين " الأخرى النافذة .
ب - لا يجوز تفتيش النساء ذاتيا إلا من قبل مفتشات جمركيات .
ج - يحق لموظفي الإدارة في حالة وجود دلائل كافية على وجود مواد مهربة ، وبعد الحصول على إذن من الجهة المختصة تفتيش أي بيت أو مخزن أو أي محل وفقا للأنظمة " القوانين " النافذة .
د - لا يتحمل موظفو الإدارة مسؤولية الأضرار الناشئة عن ممارستهم لعملهم الوظيفي على الوجه المطلوب .
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 122 explained in plain English
This article sets out the powers of customs employees in combating smuggling and their limits, in four paragraphs:
(a) The duty and general powers: the Administration's employees must combat smuggling, and for that purpose they may inspect goods, inspect means of transport and search persons, all in accordance with the provisions of this law and the other applicable laws.
(b) Searching women: women may not be personally searched except by female customs inspectors. This is an express guarantee in the text.
(c) Searching houses, warehouses and shops: the Administration's employees may search any house, warehouse or shop, under cumulative conditions:
- There is sufficient evidence of the presence of smuggled materials.
- They obtain permission from the competent authority.
- The search is carried out in accordance with the applicable laws.
(d) Non-liability: the Administration's employees do not bear liability for damage arising from carrying out their job duties as required. The exemption is therefore limited to the work having been performed as required.
Article 123 gives the authorized employees the right to board ships in ports and remain on them until their cargo is unloaded and to inspect all their parts. Anyone who has been searched and believes the search exceeded these limits would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal and customs cases.
Practical example
Customs received information that amounts to sufficient evidence of smuggled goods in a warehouse in a border city. The employees may not search it except after obtaining permission from the competent authority and in accordance with the applicable laws. If a woman is present at the place, she may only be personally searched by a female customs inspector.
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 122 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
Is customs entitled to search my house?
Yes, when there is sufficient evidence of the presence of smuggled materials, after obtaining permission from the competent authority and in accordance with the applicable laws.
Who searches women at customs?
Women may not be personally searched except by female customs inspectors.
Is a customs employee liable for damage resulting from a search?
He does not bear liability for damage arising from carrying out his job duties as required.
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The department may open packages where it suspects prohibited goods or a mismatch with the documents, in the absence of an owner who refuses to attend despite being notified, and where necessary before notifying him, through a committee formed by the Director General.
للدائرة الجمركية الحق في فتح الطرود لمعاينتها عند الاشتباه بوجود بضائع ممنوعة أو مخالفة لما هو وارد في الوثائق الجمركية في غياب مالك البضاعة، أو من يمثله، إذا ا
- Article 81
The customs department may inspect free zones and markets for goods prohibited from entering, and audit documents and examine goods when smuggling is suspected.
للدائرة الجمركية القيام بأعمال التفتيش في المناطق والأسواق الحرة عن البضائع الممنوع دخولها إليها ،كما يجوز لها تدقيق المستندات والكشف على البضائع لدى الاشتباه ب
- Article 116
Customs employees are judicial police officers while working, within their jurisdiction, and are given a card to show on request and wear an official uniform if their work requires it.
أ - يعد موظفو الإدارة أثناء قيامهم بأعمالهم من رجال الضبط القضائي ، وذلك في حدود اختصاصاتهم . ب - يعطى موظفو الإدارة عند تعيينهم بطاقة تثبت طبيعة عملهم ، وعليهم
- Article 117
Civil and military authorities and the internal security forces must give customs employees every assistance as soon as they ask, and the Administration must cooperate with other official bodies.
على السلطات المدنية والعسكرية وقوى الأمن الداخلي أن تقدم لموظفي الإدارة كل مساعدة للقيام بعملهم بمجرد طلبهم ذلك ، كما يجب على الإدارة التعاون مع الجهات الرسمية
- Article 118
Customs employees whose work requires it are permitted to carry weapons, and these employees are designated by decision of the Minister or the competent authority.
يسمح بحمل السلاح لموظفي الجمارك الذين تتطلب طبيعة عملهم ذلك ، ويحدد هؤلاء الموظفون بقرار من الوزير أو الجهة المختصة .
- Article 119
Every employee of the customs Administration whose service ends for any reason must return what is in his custody to the Administration.
على كل موظف من موظفي الإدارة تنتهي خدماته لأي سبب كان ، أن يعيد ما في عهدته إلى الإدارة .
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.