KUWAIT CITY, Oct 15: Customs inspectors at the Abdali border checkpoint successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of narcotic pills into the country. The operation began when inspectors grew suspicious of a vehicle driven by an Iraqi female expat arriving in Kuwait.

During inspection procedures, officers noticed irregularities that prompted them to refer the vehicle for a more thorough check using specialized detection tools. A sniffer dog later gave a clear alert toward the vehicle’s spare tire. Upon inspection of the tire, officers discovered 7,952 Lyrica pills expertly concealed inside, in an apparent attempt to evade detection by customs authorities.

A seizure report was filed, and both the vehicle and the suspect were detained. The case has been referred to the competent authorities to complete the necessary legal procedures.

The General Administration of Customs reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying efforts to combat all forms of smuggling, enhancing inspection methods, and strengthening cooperation with security agencies to protect the country from the entry of prohibited substances and threats to public safety.

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 15: The Traffic and Operations Sector has intensified its ongoing field campaigns to address the issue of random and illegal parking in front of hospitals across all governorates. The initiative aims to ensure smooth traffic flow and guarantee unhindered access for emergency vehicles.

In accordance with Article 207 of the Executive Regulation of the Traffic Law, offending vehicles are being impounded for a period not exceeding two months. The department emphasized the importance of adhering to traffic regulations and using only designated parking spaces to maintain safety and order.

The campaign, carried out by the General Traffic Department, targets violations involving prohibited and random parking, which obstruct traffic movement, block hospital entrances and exits, and impede the movement of visitors and pedestrians. Such violations often prevent ambulances and emergency services from reaching hospital facilities in a timely manner.

During the campaign, several violations were recorded, and multiple vehicles were impounded under the provisions of the Traffic Law.

The General Traffic Department reiterated that these inspection campaigns will continue daily and intensively across all governorates as part of a comprehensive strategy to enhance traffic discipline and ease congestion near hospitals.

Motorists are urged to respect traffic rules, avoid random parking, and use only designated parking areas to ensure public safety and facilitate emergency access.

The Ministry of Interior reaffirmed its firm commitment to enforcing the law without exception, maintaining road safety, and promoting traffic awareness among all segments of society.

File Photo : Dafnie Nacalaban (Photo from Dafnie Nacalaban Facebook page)

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 15: The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed on Tuesday that the main suspect in the killing of overseas Filipino Dafnie Nacalaban has been sentenced to 14 years in prison by a Kuwait court.

“The latest development involves the case of the Filipino who was found slain in a garden. Three other individuals were also convicted as accomplices and received their respective sentences,” DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac stated during a briefing at the DMW office in Mandaluyong City.

Nacalaban’s body was discovered on December 31, 2024, in the yard of her employer’s home in Saad Al-Abdullah, Jahra, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs. She had been reported missing by her second employer in October 2024 after losing contact with her.

Dafine Nacalaban, who had been working in Kuwait since December 2019, was found in an advanced state of decomposition following a police report filed by a relative of the suspect. The main suspect, a Kuwaiti national with a prior criminal record, later admitted to killing Nacalaban.

After months of coordination between Philippine and Kuwait authorities, Nacalaban’s remains were repatriated to the Philippines on February 21, 2025, through the efforts of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the DMW.

In a related update, Secretary Cacdac said the Philippine government is continuing to provide support for another OFW recently convicted in the death of her employer’s son. “Yes, she has been convicted, but the case is currently under appeal,” Cacdac noted. “We have provided her with legal counsel, and our team continues to visit her regularly in Kuwait.”