Kuwait foils biggest drug operation in its history, seizes KD150 million haul

Kuwait has thwarted the largest drug operation in its history, seizing approximately five tonnes of raw Lyrica powder and nearly four million capsules, each capable of being sold for a significant profit. Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al Yousef Al Sabah, speaking on Wednesday, detailed the operation, which took place on Tuesday.

The arrested drug operation involved a fully equipped facility dedicated to producing Lyrica, a prescription drug known by the brand name pregabalin, along with the necessary equipment for manufacturing and packaging capsules. This seizure highlights the formidable threat that has been neutralized by Kuwait's anti-narcotics forces.

The minister unveiled the operation during the closing ceremony of a national anti-drug awareness campaign, organized by the Ministry of Social Affairs alongside government, private-sector, and civil society entities. Combatting drug trafficking continues to be a top priority for the Interior Ministry, with intensified efforts to pursue smugglers, enhance surveillance and enforcement, and dismantle drug supply networks.

Sheikh Fahad emphasized that the government's strategy extends beyond seizures and arrests to include prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. Kuwait has established a specialized facility for treating and rehabilitating female drug addicts and is in the process of setting up additional centers to boost treatment capacity. The minister urged families to seek assistance if a family member encounters a drug problem, assuring that treatment programs offer confidentiality and privacy, and that seeking treatment voluntarily does not lead to a criminal record for the individual.

The Interior Ministry is committed to collaborating with other state institutions to combat trafficking, disrupt supply networks, and raise public awareness, describing the fight against drugs as a collective national responsibility. Recent drug busts include the arrest of a Kuwaiti individual following the discovery of a marijuana farm inside a home, the interception of an air shipment containing 86 kilograms of marijuana from Britain, and the seizure of over 14 million Captagon pills through a joint operation between the UAE and Kuwait.