Article 123 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
المادة 123 من نظام قانون الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية · الفصل الأول: التحري عن التهريب
Authorized customs employees may board all ships in local ports, or entering or leaving them, remain on them until their cargo is unloaded and search all their parts.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لموظفي الإدارة المخولين الحق في الصعود إلى جميع السفن الموجودة في الموانئ المحلية والداخلة إليها أو الخارجة منها ، وأن يبقوا فيها حتى تفرغ حمولتها ولهم تفتيش كافة أجزاء السفينة .
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 123 explained in plain English
This article gives customs employees special powers over ships in ports.
Who holds the power: the authorized employees of the Administration, meaning those assigned to it, not every employee.
Ships covered: all ships:
- Located in local ports.
- Entering them.
- Leaving them.
The three powers:
- Boarding the ship.
- Remaining on it until its cargo is unloaded.
- Searching all parts of the ship.
The article does not require suspicion in order to exercise these powers inside ports; they are general supervisory powers over ships in ports. The purpose is to ensure that goods are not unloaded or hidden without supervision.
Article 122 completes this framework by requiring the Administration's employees to combat smuggling and giving them powers of inspection and search. Article 124 deals with ships within the customs zone at sea, and gives the authorized employees the right to board them, search them and demand the manifest, and to take seizure measures and escort the ship to the nearest customs office if documents are not produced or are missing and there is suspicion. Ship masters and their agents who object to a search would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in customs and commercial cases.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCriminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 123 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
Is customs entitled to board a ship in port?
Yes. The Administration's authorized employees have the right to board all ships in local ports and those entering or leaving them.
Do customs employees remain on the ship?
They may remain on it until its cargo is unloaded and search all its parts.
More articles on Customs Officers and Combating Smuggling
- Article 55
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.