Saudi authorities have fined a man 3,800 riyals for attempting to smuggle 380 liters of Zamzam water hidden in the trunk of his car.
The fine is equivalent to about Tk 124,000, and the shipment was confiscated, according to a Khaleej Times report published on Monday, November 2.
The man was stopped at the King Fahd Causeway customs checkpoint in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.
A search found 380 liters of Zamzam water concealed in the trunk. He had not declared the shipment to customs.
Saudi Arabia’s second preliminary customs committee in Riyadh said the country’s regulations prohibit exports of Zamzam water. Attempting to take such goods abroad without declaring them constitutes customs smuggling.
The committee imposed a fine of 3,800 riyals, equal to the value of the water, and ordered the entire shipment confiscated.
Prosecutors had sought imprisonment, a fine and confiscation. The committee rejected the prison request because the man had no previous criminal record, finding the fine and confiscation sufficient.
The ruling was issued under Articles 142, 144 and 145 of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s common customs law, which define customs smuggling and set penalties for related offenses.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report