Article 125 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
المادة 125 من نظام قانون الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية · الفصل الأول: التحري عن التهريب
The Administration may take appropriate measures to investigate smuggling inside and outside the customs office, in accordance with the rules set by the Minister or the competent authority.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للإدارة اتخاذ الإجراءات المناسبة للتحري عن التهريب داخل الدائرة الجمركية وخارجها وفق القواعد التي يحددها الوزير أو الجهة المختصة
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 125 explained in plain English
This article gives the General Customs Administration a general power to investigate smuggling.
Elements of the rule:
- The power-holder: the Administration.
- Its content: taking appropriate measures to investigate smuggling.
- Its place: inside and outside the customs office, so it is not limited to crossings and ports.
- Its control: the rules set by the Minister or the competent authority.
What this means: customs work in combating smuggling does not stop at the limits of the customs office, but at the same time it is bound by the rules set by the Minister or the competent authority, so measures are not taken outside these rules. The article does not state the forms of these measures.
Article 124 deals with the powers of authorized employees over ships within the customs zone, from boarding, searching and demanding documents to seizing goods and escorting the ship when documents are refused and there is suspicion. Article 126 sets the cases in which investigating smuggling, seizing goods and investigating violations are permitted across the state's territory: in the land and maritime zones, in customs offices, ports, airports and places under control, and outside the zones in continuous pursuit of goods seen inside the zone in a position indicating an intent to smuggle them.
Anyone subjected to investigation measures would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal and customs cases.
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 125 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
Does customs investigate smuggling outside the crossings?
Yes. The Administration may take appropriate measures to investigate smuggling inside and outside the customs office.
Who sets the rules for investigating smuggling?
The Minister or the competent authority.
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.