"Poisoned Paper" ... Does Not Deceive "Customs"
- Seven seizure reports filed for “chemical”-soaked papers between January and August
- Necessity of avoiding touching, smelling, or testing any suspected paper
- Determining the nature of the substance cannot rely on appearance or guesswork
- Such items may appear superficially as ordinary papers, publications, or book pages
- Seizure of suspected materials does not depend on a single procedure but is part of an integrated system
- Success of seizure operations relies on the integration of technical means with human expertise
- Utilization of risk analysis systems and information sharing with the Ministry of Interior
- The experience of customs inspectors is a key factor in detecting smuggling attempts
- Combating drugs requires coordination among customs and security agencies, families, and society
As drug smuggling methods evolve and exploit materials that appear ordinary and non-suspicious—including papers soaked in narcotics, specifically “chemical” and other psychoactive substances—Saleh Al-Omar, Deputy Head of Customs Ports Affairs at the General Customs Authority, clarified that the danger of drug-soaked papers lies in their difficulty to distinguish visually from ordinary paper, as well as the inability to determine the nature or concentration of the substance through external appearance.
Al-Omar emphasized in a special statement to “Al-Rai” that customs authorities deal with any new smuggling method with firmness and readiness. The General Customs Authority continues to raise the level of vigilance and preparedness at ports, relying on risk analysis and various inspection methods, alongside the expertise of customs inspectors and continuous coordination with security agencies. This follows directives from the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, to tighten surveillance on drug smuggling attempts and protect the country and its youth from this scourge.
Al-Omar revealed that seven seizure reports were filed for “chemical”-soaked papers during the period from early January to the end of last August. He warned against the dangers of handling suspected papers randomly, stressing the necessity of not touching, smelling, or testing any suspected paper, and leaving its handling to competent authorities, as determining the nature of the substance cannot be based on appearance or guesswork.
Al-Omar explained that drug-soaked papers refer to paper materials soaked in narcotics or psychoactive substances, which may appear superficially as ordinary papers, publications, or book pages, making their detection a challenge requiring vigilance and expertise in suspicion and handling.
He pointed out the monitoring of attempts to conceal narcotics or psychoactive substances within paper materials or by soaking paper with them, and then sending them within parcels and shipments that appear routine. He confirmed that smuggling methods “are constantly changing,” and that customs follows these developments and works to update its procedures accordingly.
Al-Omar clarified that seizing suspected materials does not rely on a single procedure but is part of an integrated system starting with risk analysis and customs suspicion, followed by inspecting the shipment and its contents using available inspection means and devices, leading to referring suspected materials to competent authorities for examination and verification of their nature. He noted that the authority cannot disclose precise technical details of targeting and search mechanisms, to preserve the confidentiality of customs operations, emphasizing that the success of seizure operations depends on the integration of technical means with human expertise.
He emphasized that, despite its importance, technology does not eliminate the role of the customs inspector, noting that his experience and ability to detect abnormal indicators remain fundamental factors in uncovering smuggling attempts, particularly as smugglers continuously adapt their methods.
He stressed that combating drug trafficking is not the responsibility of a single entity, but requires coordination among customs, security agencies, families, and society, especially given the evolution of smuggling methods and attempts to exploit means and materials that are difficult to detect through traditional means. He pointed out that the vigilance of customs officers at border crossings, combined with family awareness, remains the primary line of defense against attempts to introduce narcotics into the country, while smugglers strive to innovate new ways to conceal these substances and evade suspicion.
Recent statistics from the General Customs Administration recorded 164 seizure reports for narcotics and psychotropic substances between January 1 and August 30, 2026, an indicator reflecting the scale of customs and security efforts to thwart attempts to smuggle drugs into the country, coinciding with the development of smuggling techniques and attempts to exploit means and materials that are difficult to detect through conventional methods.
In a direct message to parents, Al-Amr urged families to be alert to any unusual, unidentified, or unknown-source papers, scraps, or printed materials reaching their children, particularly if accompanied by unexplained behavioral changes or attempts to conceal the source of such documents.
He confirmed that no single visual characteristic can be relied upon to determine whether a paper is drug-related, and therefore, suspicion should lead to reporting rather than personal experimentation or inspection.
Al-Amr advised all travelers not to carry any bags, parcels, papers, or items belonging to others, even if requested by an acquaintance, unless they are fully aware of their contents. He highlighted the necessity of not accepting custody from unknown individuals or transporting parcels on behalf of others, as some smugglers may exploit travelers’ good intentions to pass narcotics or prohibited items using methods that are difficult to detect superficially.
He stressed the importance of each traveler personally verifying the contents of their luggage, as caution and awareness serve as protection for travelers against legal liability or exploitation by smuggling networks.
