Article 150 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
المادة 150 من نظام قانون الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية · الفصل السادس: الملاحقات
Criminal proceedings in smuggling crimes may not be initiated except on a written request from the Director General.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز تحريك الدعوى في جرائم التهريب إلا بناء على طلب خطي من المدير العام .
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 150 explained in plain English
This article places a procedural restriction on initiating proceedings in smuggling crimes.
The rule: proceedings may not be initiated in smuggling crimes except on a written request from the Director General.
Its elements:
- Scope: smuggling crimes.
- Condition: a request from the Director General.
- Form: the request must be in writing.
What this means: the decision to initiate criminal proceedings in smuggling is tied to the will of the administration represented by the Director General, so proceedings are not initiated without this written request. This is consistent with the possibility of ending some cases by other means.
This includes what Article 151 provides, which allows the Director General or his delegate, on a written request from the interested party, to conclude a settlement in smuggling cases, before the suit is filed or while it is being heard and before the first-instance judgment, in place of the customs penalties and fines provided for in Article 145. The settlement guide is issued by decision of the Minister or the competent authority.
The article does not specify the body to which the request is submitted or its time limit. A person accused of smuggling who wishes to know whether a settlement is possible before proceedings are initiated 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 150 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
Who initiates a customs smuggling case?
Proceedings may not be initiated except on a written request from the Director General.
Can a smuggling case be settled without trial?
Article 151 allows the Director General or his delegate to conclude a settlement on a written request from the interested party before the suit is filed or before the first-instance judgment.
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تشكل لجنة للفصل في القيمة من موظفي الإدارة بموجب قرار من المدير العام أو من يفوضه، وتكون مهمتها حل الخلافات التي تنشأ بين الدائرة الجمركية وأصحاب العلاقة حول قي
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أ - يجوز لمحرري محضر الضبط حجز البضائع موضوع المخالفة أو التهريب والأشياء التي استعملت لإخفائها ووسائط النقل وضبط جميع المستندات ووضع اليد عليها؛ بغية إثبات الم
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يجوز بقرار من المدير العام -عند الضرورة وضمانا لحقوق الخزينة العامة- فرض تأمين جمركي على أموال المكلفين أو شركائهم.
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أ - يجوز للمدير العام أن يصدر القرارات اللازمة لتحصيل الضرائب " الرسوم " الجمركية والرسوم الأخرى والغرامات الجمركية الثابتة التي تخلف المكلف عن أدائها . ب - يجو
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أ - تفرض الغرامات المنصوص عليها في الفصل الرابع من هذا الباب بقرار من المدير العام أو من يفوضه بذلك . ب - يبلغ المخالف أو من يمثله بالغرامة المفروضة عليه بموجب
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.