Article 59 of the Saudi Weapons and Ammunition Law
المادة 59 من نظام الأسلحة والذخائر
The Minister may grant a reward not exceeding the value of the fine imposed to anyone who reports weapons trafficking or smuggling, if the report leads to seizure of the weapons and conviction of the violators.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجوز للوزير منح مكافأة لا تزيد على قيمة الغرامة المحكوم بها لمن يقوم بالإبلاغ عن مخالفات الاتجار بالأسلحة أو تهريبها إذا أدى بلاغه إلى ضبط الأسلحة وإدانة المخالفين.
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 59 explained in plain English
This article encourages the public to report the most serious weapons violations. It allows the Minister, who is the Minister of Interior, to grant a reward to the person reporting, on these conditions:
- The report must concern violations of weapons trafficking or smuggling.
- The report must lead to the seizure of the weapons.
- It must also lead to the conviction of the violators.
The reward has a ceiling, which is the value of the fine imposed, and the text sets no minimum. Note that the article uses the word "may," so the reward is a discretionary power of the Minister and not an automatic right of the person reporting.
This article comes after Article 58, which allows the Minister to permit re-export of weapons that arrived without prior permission if they were declared before seizure. It is followed by Article 60, which authorizes the Minister to determine the departments and branches responsible for implementing the Law, their regions and their powers.
Anyone who wishes to report and has a question about their legal position can consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
A citizen in Jazan reported a group smuggling weapons across the border to the competent authorities. The weapons were seized and the smugglers were convicted and fined. The Minister may grant the person who reported a reward not exceeding the value of the fine imposed.
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 59 of the Saudi Weapons and Ammunition Law
Is there a reward for reporting weapons smuggling?
Yes. The Minister may grant a reward to anyone who reports weapons trafficking or smuggling if the report leads to seizure of the weapons and conviction of the violators.
How much is the reporting reward?
It does not exceed the value of the fine imposed, and the text sets no minimum.
Is the person reporting entitled to the reward if no conviction is secured?
The article requires that the report lead to seizure of the weapons and conviction of the violators.
More articles on Weapon Confiscation and Trial Procedures
- Article 48
The article provides that anyone proven to have participated in committing any violation under the Weapons and Ammunition Law is punished with the penalty set for the violation itself.
يعاقب بالعقوبة المقررة على المخالفة نفسها كل من تثبت مشاركته في ارتكاب أي مخالفة من المخالفات الواردة في هذا النظام.
- Article 49
The article applies the Weapons and Ammunition Law's penalties, except imprisonment, to institutions, companies, and any other establishment proven to have violated its provisions.
تطبق العقوبات - عدا السجن - الواردة في هذا النظام على المؤسسات أو الشركات أو أي منشأة أخرى يثبت مخالفتها لما ورد به من أحكام.
- Article 50Amended (1437 AH)
The article provides for the confiscation by judicial ruling of seized weapons, ammunition, and equipment, and of the means of transport in smuggling, and sets what happens to seized items when proceedings cannot be brought or lapse.
1- إضافة إلى العقوبات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام، يصادر بحكم قضائي جميع ما يضبط من أسلحة وذخائر ومعدات متعلقة بها. وإذا كانت المخالفة تهريباً فتصادر وسيلة النق
- Article 51
The article requires aggravating the penalties in Articles 34, 35, and 36 if the violator is an employee of the bodies concerned with applying the Weapons and Ammunition Law.
يراعى تشديد العقوبات المقررة في المواد (الرابعة والثلاثين، والخامسة والثلاثين، والسادسة والثلاثين) من هذا النظام إذا كان مرتكب المخالفة أحد موظفي الجهات ذات الع
- Article 52
The article assigns the investigation of violations of the Weapons and Ammunition Law to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution.
تتولى هيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام التحقيق في مخالفات أحكام هذا النظام.
- Article 53Amended (1437 AH)
The article creates a three-member committee by decision of the Minister to consider imposing the penalties in Articles 43 (except paragraph c), 44, 45, and 46, and allows a grievance against its decisions before the Administrative Court within sixty days.
تكوّن – بقرار من الوزير – لجنة من ثلاثة أعضاء يكون من بينهم واحد من المؤهلين في العلوم الشرعية أو النظامية للنظر في توقيع العقوبات المنصوص عليها في المواد (الثا
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.