RIYADH: Batha Customs officers arrested three suspects for attempting to smuggle 1,984 pieces of gold weighing 9.4 kilograms, according to Director General Abdulrahman Al-Muhanna.
He said that the smuggling attempt was discovered when officers at the checkpoint stopped a bus carrying a group of passengers.
He added that three of the passengers were found to have a total of 1,984 pieces of gold in their possession. One had 443 pieces of wrought gold hidden in his clothes.
He added that another passenger had a total of 300 pieces, while a third suspect had 1,241 items.
“The latter two put the gold pieces in small bags and tied them around their legs and the inspectors easily detected these,” he said.
He added that gold smuggling is rampant and the reason is simply because the smugglers avoid paying customs duties.
He said that under the law, every traveler, whether leaving or coming to the Kingdom, should declare precious metals including gold, jewelry or coins worth more than SR60,000.
“They must pay customs duties if they have to,” he said.
He said that the smuggling attempt was discovered when officers at the checkpoint stopped a bus carrying a group of passengers.
He added that three of the passengers were found to have a total of 1,984 pieces of gold in their possession. One had 443 pieces of wrought gold hidden in his clothes.
He added that another passenger had a total of 300 pieces, while a third suspect had 1,241 items.
“The latter two put the gold pieces in small bags and tied them around their legs and the inspectors easily detected these,” he said.
He added that gold smuggling is rampant and the reason is simply because the smugglers avoid paying customs duties.
He said that under the law, every traveler, whether leaving or coming to the Kingdom, should declare precious metals including gold, jewelry or coins worth more than SR60,000.
“They must pay customs duties if they have to,” he said.
