Driver fined SAR 3,800 for smuggling 380 litres of Zamzam water

A driver in Saudi Arabia has been fined SAR 3,800 after being convicted of attempting to smuggle 380 litres of Zamzam water out of the Kingdom through the King Fahd Causeway, according to a Saudi lawyer.

The case was brought by the Eastern Region Public Prosecution after customs officials discovered the water concealed inside the vehicle’s boot during an inspection at the checkpoint. The consignment had not been declared, and its export was restricted under Saudi regulations.

The Primary Customs Committee in Riyadh ruled that the driver had committed customs smuggling. It ordered the confiscation of the seized water and imposed a fine of SAR 3,800, equivalent to the value of the consignment.

However, the committee rejected the prosecution’s request for a prison sentence, noting that the defendant had no previous criminal convictions and that the penalties imposed were sufficient.

Details of the customs case

The committee examined the case at a hearing on December 2, 2025, during which the defendant was represented by an authorised representative. After reviewing the prosecution’s claims and the defence submissions, it closed the proceedings for deliberation.

Legal basis of the ruling

The decision was based on Articles 142, 144 and 145 of the Unified Customs Law of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Article 142 defines customs smuggling as bringing goods into or taking them out of a country in violation of applicable customs laws and restrictions. Article 144 outlines the categories of people who may be held criminally responsible, while Article 145 specifies penalties, including fines, imprisonment and confiscation.

The committee applied these provisions in finding the driver guilty and ordering the financial penalty and confiscation of the Zamzam water.

About Zamzam water

Zamzam well is located in Makkah, 21 meters east of Kaaba. It has an ancient history dating back to thousands of years. Being 30 meters deep, it holds a high spiritual value for Muslims who drink it, based on the hadiths of the Prophet saying that “Zamzam water is for what he drank.

It is of great value to Muslims and they usually drink it in the hope of overall wellbeing

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