VZCZCXYZ0007
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRH #0149/01 0240604
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 240604Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4095
INFO RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH PRIORITY 8219

UNCLAS RIYADH 000149 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA/ARP FOR BRIAN SHUKAN, INL FOR JOHN LYLE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR KCRM
SUBJECT: INCSR 2006: SAUDI ARABIA SUBMISSION 
 
REF: STATE 154898 
 
¶1.  (U) In response to reftel, Post submits its 2006 
International Narcotics Control Straetgy Report.  BEGIN TEXT: 
 
 
¶I. Summary 
Saudi Arabia has no appreciable drug production and is not a 
significant transit country. Saudi Arabia,s conservative 
cultural and religious norms discourage drug abuse. The Saudi 
Government places a high priority on combating narcotics 
abuse and trafficking. Since 1988, the Government has imposed 
the death penalty for drug smuggling. Although it is believed 
that drug abuse is increasing, drug abuse and trafficking do 
not pose major social or law enforcement problems. However, 
Saudi officials acknowledge that illegal drug consumption and 
trafficking are on the rise.  This rise has caused increased 
arrests and governmental controls over the past year.  Saudi 
and U.S. counter narcotics officials maintain good relations. 
Saudi Arabia is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention. 
II. Status of Country 
Saudi Arabia has no significant drug production, and in 
keeping with its conservative Islamic values and 1988 UN Drug 
Convention obligations, it places a high priority on fighting 
narcotics abuse and trafficking. Narcotics-related crimes are 
punished harshly, and narcotics trafficking is a capital 
offense enforced against Saudis and foreigners alike. During 
2006, approximately 20 executions for narcotics-related 
offenses were reported in the Saudi media. Saudi Arabia 
maintains a network of overseas drug enforcement liaison 
offices and state-of-the-art detection and training programs 
to combat trafficking. While Saudi officials are determined 
in their counter narcotics efforts, drug trafficking and 
abuse is a growing problem. Since the Saudi government 
provides no statistics on drug consumption, interdiction, and 
trafficking, it is difficult to substantiate this assessment 
with hard data. Newspaper reports indicated that there are 
about one hundred and fifty thousand drug addicts and users 
in the Kingdom.   However, anecdotal evidence suggests that 
Saudi Arabia,s relatively affluent population, large numbers 
of idle youth, and high profit margins on smuggled narcotics 
make the country an attractive target for drug traffickers 
and dealers. 
The Saudi Government undertakes widespread counter narcotics 
educational campaigns in the media, health institutes, and 
schools.  The government also blocks internet sites that it 
deems to promote drug abuse.  Government efforts to treat 
drug abuse are aimed solely at Saudi nationals, who are 
remanded to one of the nation,s four drug treatment centers 
in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Qassim.  Al-Amal hospital in 
Riyadh has an in-patient rehabilitation center for women. 
Additionally, media reports and Saudi officials noted that 
the Ministry of Health planned to open an in-patient 
rehabilitation center for female addicts in the Jeddah branch 
of Al-Amal hospital at the end of 2006.  As of this report, 
the center had not yet been opened.  The hospital currently 
treats female drug abusers as outpatients.  The women branch 
at the General Presidency for Fighting Narcotics was 
established in 1988 and had only one female employee. 
Currently, it has 40 female staff members.  Expatriate 
substance abusers are jailed and summarily deported. Health 
officials confirm anecdotal reports of an increase in drug 
abuse, but note that most addictions are not severe due to 
the scarcity of available narcotics and their diluted form. 
Saudi narcotics officials said that Keptagon, Heroin, Hashish 
and Qat are the most heavily-consumed substances, but Saudi 
officials report that cocaine and amphetamines are also in 
demand. Paint/glue inhalation and abuse of prescription drugs 
are also reported. 
III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 2005 
Policy Initiatives. The lead agency in Saudi Arabia,s drug 
interdiction efforts is the Ministry of Interior, which has 
over 40 overseas offices in countries representing a 
trafficking threat. In addition, the Saudi Government 
continues to play a leading role in efforts to enhance 
intelligence sharing among the six nations of the Gulf 
Cooperation Council. 
Accomplishments/Law Enforcement Efforts. Saudi and U.S. drug 
enforcement officials exchange information on narcotics 
cases. Drug seizures, arrests, prosecutions and consumption 
trends are becoming more a matter of public record.  Contrary 
to previous years, illegal narcotics seizures by Saudi 
officials appear frequently in local newspapers. 
Corruption. There is no evidence of involvement by Saudi 
Government officials in the production, processing or 
shipment of narcotic and psychotropic drugs and other 
controlled substances.  However, newspapers reported in 
August 2006 that one Saudi officer and two border guard 
policemen were beheaded for drug distribution and smuggling. 
Anecdotal evidence suggests that drugs are widely used in 
Saudi prisons in which certain officers are involved in 
selling and distribution. 
Agreements and Treaties. Saudi Arabia is a party to the 1988 
UN Drug Convention, the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic 
Substances, and the 1961 UN Single Convention as amended by 
its 1972 Protocol. Saudi Arabia signed the UN Convention on 
Transnational Organized Crime in 12 December 2000 and 
ratified it in 18 January 2005. 
Cultivation/Production. Cultivation and production of 
narcotics in Saudi Arabia is negligible.  However, one 
incident reported in the media indicated that the National 
Guard in Madina raided a house after cannabis was discovered 
in the yard. 
Drug Flow/Transit. Saudi Arabia is not a major transshipment 
point. Officials say that there are stricter control measures 
practiced by the country and therefore more seizures. 
Keptagon and Heroin are smuggled into the Kingdom,s from the 
northern border with Jordan.  Hashish is smuggled into the 
Kingdom from its north-eastern borders with the United Arab 
Emirates, and Qat is smuggled into the Kingdom from its 
southern borders with Yemen. 
Domestic Programs (Demand Reduction). In addition to 
widespread media campaigns against substance abuse, the Saudi 
Government sponsors drug eradication programs directed at 
school-age children, health care providers and mothers.  The 
Ministry of Civil service will begin requiring applicants for 
civil service positions to take a drug test as of January 
¶2007.  Executions of convicted traffickers (public beheadings 
which are widely publicized) are believed by Saudi officials 
to serve as a deterrent to narcotics trafficking and abuse. 
The country,s influential religious establishment actively 
preaches against narcotics use, and Government treatment 
facilities provide free counseling to Saudi addicts. 
IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs 
Bilateral Cooperation. Saudi officials actively seek and 
participate in U.S.-Sponsored training programs and are 
receptive to enhanced official contacts with DEA.  Saudi 
Arabia is part of the International Combating Office in Cairo 
that works closely with the US combating agencies. 
Road Ahead. The U.S. will continue to explore opportunities 
for additional bilateral training and cooperation. 
END TEXT. 
 
 
 
 
 
OBERWETTER