PLC President Launches Measures to Combat Smuggling, Undermine War Economy

  Riyadh

His Excellency President Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, President of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), today launched comprehensive measures to combat smuggling pursuant to PLC decisions. The measures form part of broader reforms to protect sovereign ports of entry, undermine the war economy, and disrupt the sources of financing and arms supplies to the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist militias.

While chairing part of a meeting of the Supreme Committee for Combating Smuggling, attended by Prime Minister Dr. Shai’a Al-Zindani, Chairman of the Committee, President Al-Alimi said that the era of leniency toward smuggling was over. He stressed that the state would take all necessary measures to protect legitimate trade and the national private sector. He asserted that the state would resolutely crack down on every smuggling network that drains its resources, finances its adversaries, or threatens its national security.

His Excellency affirmed that a state engaged in a decisive battle to restore its national institutions could no longer allow smuggling networks to operate from its territory and sovereign ports of entry, or provide them with any form of cover.

“PLC decisions are clear and must be implemented without selectivity,” President Al-Alimi said. “Any port of entry or seaport operating outside the legal framework must be closed and immediately brought under the applicable laws and regulations.”

The PLC President directed that the status of all ports of entry and seaports where irregularities had been recorded in the past period be reassessed. The review should cover the performance of their directors, as well as the government and security agencies operating there. He also called for the rotation of personnel and the replacement of anyone proven to be underperforming or negligent.

He said there would be no job-related or political immunity for anyone proven to be involved in smuggling, providing protection to smugglers, facilitating the passage of their shipments, or obstructing state decisions related to the issue.

“Any official, regardless of their position, who is proven to be involved, complicit, or grossly negligent must be subject to legal procedures, with completed case files referred to the Public Prosecution without delay,” he added.

President Al-Alimi also directed that any interference in the work of seaports, ports of entry and customs authorities be halted. He stressed that there would be no exemptions outside the law, exceptional reductions, privileges for individuals or companies, or directives that bypass the competent institutions.

He emphasized that state revenues belong to the people and must not be subject to favors, influence, or settlements.

President Al-Alimi expressed confidence in the ability of the Prime Minister, the government, and the Supreme Committee for Combating Smuggling to carry out this national task with utmost seriousness and resolve. He commended their efforts in managing this exceptional phase and their demonstrated seriousness in addressing complex economic and security issues.

The President called on the Supreme Committee for Combating Smuggling to expedite the preparation and implementation of a unified list of materials, equipment and vehicles prohibited from being transferred to areas under the control of the militias, particularly military-use and dual-use items.

In this context, he underscored the priority of protecting currency, gold and minerals from practices that deplete the country’s resources, undermine the national currency and banking sector, and create channels for financing illicit activities. He stressed the need to take the necessary legal measures to halt such activities, track their networks and sources, and address the platforms promoting them.

The President also stressed that the measures must be precise and carefully considered, so as to target smugglers rather than legitimate trade, protect the economy without disrupting food and medicine supplies, and safeguard remittances and citizens’ savings.

For his part, Prime Minister Dr. Shai’a Mohsen Al-Zindani expressed his gratitude to President Al-Alimi for attending the meeting of the Supreme Committee for Combating Smuggling. He affirmed that combating smuggling is no longer a limited customs or security matter, but has become a state issue directly linked to protecting the national economy, safeguarding state resources, and strengthening security and stability.

Dr. Al-Zindani noted that protecting state resources is no longer merely a financial matter, but also part of the battle to restore state institutions and authority. It is a matter to strengthen the state’s ability to fulfill its responsibilities toward citizens.

The Prime Minister affirmed that the government would provide all necessary political and institutional support to the relevant authorities. He affirmed that there would be no cover for any negligence or laxity in this regard.

He said that, with the support and follow-up of President Al-Alimi, there is now an opportunity to lay a solid foundation for an integrated national system to combat smuggling. He stressed the need to seize this opportunity to establish an effective system capable of addressing the issue comprehensively. He added that when the state and government make a decision, they are capable of enforcing the law and protecting their interests.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Yahya Al-Shuaibi, Director of the Office of the Presidency of the Republic and Mr. Hossam Al-Sharjabi, Head of the Economic Team.