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Kuwait jails five over $179M illicit money transfer scheme targeting expats

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Kuwait jails five over $179M illicit money transfer scheme targeting expats

Kuwait imprisons five for role in $179 million money laundering operation targeting expats.

KUWAIT CITY, April 28: A Kuwaiti criminal court has sentenced two Iraqi nationals and three Egyptians to three years in prison each for their involvement in an illicit financial transfer scheme that specifically targeted the Egyptian expatriate community in the country.

The court acquitted the remaining defendants accused in the case, which involved laundering approximately 55 million Kuwaiti dinars (around $179 million), and ordered the confiscation of all seized funds.

According to Al-Qabas newspaper, the case was initially uncovered when Kuwaiti authorities arrested an Egyptian man found carrying 50,000 Kuwaiti dinars (about $163,000) in cash. The arrest led to an investigation that exposed a wider network of individuals — both Iraqis and Egyptians — engaged in illegal money transfer operations.

The Kuwaiti Public Prosecution’s investigation revealed that the network targeted Egypt’s large expatriate community in Kuwait, estimated at around 600,000 people. The group collected funds in cash and funneled the money to Egypt and other countries using unofficial channels, bypassing licensed financial institutions and money exchange services.

Authorities also discovered that the network was running a parallel financial system based on the informal “hawala” method, facilitating unregistered transfers and moving substantial sums of money outside the oversight of the Central Bank of Kuwait.

The case highlights the government’s ongoing efforts to clamp down on unregulated financial activities and reinforce control over monetary transactions.

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Fuel Smuggling Operation Busted; 5 Kuwait Companies Under Investigation

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KUWAIT CITY, May 17: The Ministry of Interior announced on Saturday that, following directives from Acting Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef and in coordination with the General Administration of Customs, an attempt to smuggle petroleum products out of the country has been successfully thwarted.

In a joint statement, the Ministry of Interior and the General Administration of Customs revealed that five containers belonging to three companies were flagged for inspection. Upon examination, the containers were found to contain barrels filled with a suspicious substance.

Samples were collected and sent to specialized technical laboratories for analysis, which confirmed that some of the samples contained kerosene. Further investigations revealed that two additional companies—aside from the initial three—had exported materials that, according to the Environment Public Authority, were found to contain diesel fuel. The authorities confirmed that legal action is now underway, and investigations are ongoing. The case will be referred to the competent authorities upon completion.

The Ministry of Interior reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with all relevant agencies to combat violations of the law. It emphasized that the state’s resources are a red line and warned that the law will be enforced without exception. Companies and institutions were urged to strictly adhere to all applicable laws and regulations, with the ministry warning that any attempt to exploit or damage national resources will be met with firm and uncompromising action.

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Illegal, Expired Products Found at Health Institute in Kuwait

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KUWAIT CITY, May 17: The Ministry of Health has announced that the serious violations at a health institute in the southern part of Kuwait were uncovered during the recent inspection campaign conducted by the Drug Inspection Department, in cooperation with the Health Licensing Department and the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM). The ministry revealed that a suspicious advertisement was posted on a social media platform, promoting misleading medical information and unlicensed diagnostic and therapeutic activities, affirming that the inspection committee immediately took action and carried out a field campaign.

The ministry said the violations found during the campaign included operating the institute with expired health and commercial licenses, practicing medical and pharmaceutical activities without a license from the ministry, displaying and selling nutritional supplements and special foods without a license, trading in health products not registered with ministry, and violating the medical advertising regulations in the country.

It confirmed the implementation of immediate measures to ensure community safety; such as taking samples of unregistered products for analysis by the competent authorities, seizing violating products and referring them to the Drug Inspection Department, issuing reports on the observed violations, and contacting the relevant authorities in preparation for referring the file to the Public Prosecution. It then reaffirmed its commitment to implement the law and to continuously conduct inspection campaigns, calling on all health authorities to fully comply with the legal requirements and controls.

By Marwa Al-Bahrawi
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff

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Firefighters control apartment fire in Farwaniya

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Firefighters control apartment fire in Farwaniya

Kuwait firefighters successfully controlled an apartment fire in Farwaniya.

KUWAIT CITY, May 17: Firefighters from the Farwaniya and Subhan central districts successfully contained a fire in an apartment in a building in Farwaniya early Saturday morning.

The firefighting teams worked swiftly to control the flames and prevent the fire from spreading further. Fortunately, no significant injuries were reported in the incident.

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