As Saudi Arabia Cracks Down on Drugs, Executions Near a Record High

Saudi Arabia has dramatically stepped up its campaign against drug trafficking, and the human cost is mounting. Confronted with a surge of amphetamine pills and other illicit substances flowing into the kingdom, authorities have responded with a sweeping “war on drugs” that relies heavily on the death penalty.In recent months, hundreds of individuals have been executed, many of them foreign nationals caught in low‑level smuggling operations. The crackdown targets not only large‑scale traffickers but also those caught with relatively small quantities, reflecting a policy that treats any involvement in the drug trade as a capital offense.The government has publicized hotlines and urged citizens to report suspected drug activity, positioning the campaign as a collective effort to protect public safety. Officials argue that the harsh penalties are necessary to deter the influx of substances that they say threaten the moral and social fabric of the country.Human‑rights organizations, however, have raised alarm over the sheer scale of the executions and the use of capital punishment for minor offenses. They point to the disproportionate impact on foreigners, who often lack robust legal representation and face language barriers in the Saudi judicial system. Critics argue that the approach prioritizes punitive measures over rehabilitation, and that it may violate international standards on the use of the death penalty.The rising execution figures have drawn international scrutiny, with calls for Saudi Arabia to adopt a more balanced strategy that addresses both supply and demand, invests in treatment and prevention, and reserves the death penalty for the most serious crimes. As the kingdom continues its aggressive stance against drugs, the world watches closely, hoping for a shift toward policies that protect public health while respecting fundamental human rights.