Article 39 of the Saudi Narcotics Law Implementing Regulations
المادة 39 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام مكافحة المخدرات والمؤثرات العقلية
The article gives narcotics control directors, officers and non-commissioned officers in military sectors the status of judicial officers for the Law's offenses within their sectors and facilities, with coordination with the competent bodies.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لمديري مكافحة المخدرات وضباطها وضباط الصف في القطاعات العسكرية صفة الضبط الجنائي في الجرائم المنصوص عليها في نظام مكافحة المخدرات والمؤثرات العقلية داخل القطاعات والمنشآت التابعة لها، على أن ينسق بينهم وبين مسؤولي الضبط الجنائي والتحقيق لدى الجهات المختصة في قضايا المخدرات .
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 39 explained in plain English
This article deals with drug offenses that occur inside military sectors and the facilities belonging to them.
Who has the status of judicial officer:
- Narcotics control directors in the military sectors.
- Narcotics control officers in them.
- Non-commissioned officers in them.
Scope of this status: the offenses provided for in the Law of Combating Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, but only inside the sectors and the facilities belonging to them, as the article defines.
Coordination: these persons must coordinate with the judicial officers and investigation officials of the competent bodies in drug cases.
In practical terms, the measures these persons take inside their military facilities in drug offenses come from people who hold the status of judicial officer, and their work is not separate from the other competent bodies but tied to them by coordination. The article does not set out how this coordination is carried out or its limits.
Anyone facing a measure of this kind is well advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal 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 39 of the Saudi Narcotics Law Implementing Regulations
Do military narcotics control officers have the status of judicial officers?
Yes. Narcotics control directors, officers and non-commissioned officers in the military sectors hold this status for the Law's offenses within the sectors and the facilities belonging to them.
Do they act on their own?
The article requires them to coordinate with the judicial officers and investigation officials of the competent bodies in drug cases.
More articles on Narcotics Control Authorities and Judicial Police Status
- Article 3
The article identifies the authorities competent to monitor and to prosecute those who commit the offenses under the Law of Combating Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
1- السلطات المختصة بمراقبة مرتكبي الجرائم المنصوص عليها في نظام مكافحة المخدرات والمؤثرات العقلية هي: المديرية العامة لمكافحة المخدرات وكل جهة ذات اختصاص بمكان
- Article 5
The article identifies the bodies competent to prosecute and punish a Saudi citizen who commits an offense under Article 3 of the Law outside the Kingdom, and the conditions for initiating the case.
1- السلطات المختصة في ملاحقة ومعاقبة أي مواطن سعودي أقدم خارج المملكة على ارتكاب جريمة من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثالثة) من نظام مكافحة المخدرات والم
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.