KUWAIT CITY, Aug 4: In a wide-scale field campaign, emergency teams from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry have seized more than 10,000 counterfeit products and ordered the closure of 13 shops found in violation of commercial laws and regulations.

The crackdown targeted shops across multiple governorates, focusing on the sale and distribution of fake goods.

In a statement published on its official Twitter account, the Ministry confirmed that its emergency teams will continue to carry out similar field campaigns to combat commercial fraud and protect consumer rights.

Authorities reiterated their commitment to upholding market integrity and warned businesses against dealing in counterfeit merchandise.

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 4: Three expatriate workers lost their lives on Sunday following a tragic explosion of a water tank in the Mina Abdullah area. According to a security source, preliminary investigations suggest that the workers were cleaning the tank using chemical substances when a chemical reaction—likely triggered by high temperatures—led to the fatal explosion.

Emergency police and ambulance teams responded promptly to the scene, and a forensic investigation team was dispatched to examine the site and prepare a detailed incident report. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion and whether any safety violations contributed to the incident

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 3: In a major breakthrough, the Criminal Security Sector, represented by the General Department of Criminal Investigation’s Anti-Financial Crimes Department, has dismantled an Asian criminal network that targeted both Kuwaitis and expats using a novel method of financial fraud exploiting the cardless withdrawal feature of local ATMs.

Acting swiftly, investigators were able to identify and apprehend the primary suspect in under 24 hours. The accused, identified as MD Raju MD Pentomia, a Bangladeshi national sponsored by Al-Jazeera International General Trading Group, was tracked down after authorities matched CCTV images of the ATM withdrawals with the national biometric fingerprint database.

He was arrested in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, and in his possession were approximately KWD 5,000, several SIM cards, bank cards, and remittance receipts from various money exchange offices, allegedly intended for transferring illicit funds abroad.

Further investigation revealed that the suspect was part of a larger cross-border criminal syndicate targeting the State of Kuwait. He was reportedly working in coordination with two Pakistani nationals affiliated with Mirza General Trading Company, a business front allegedly used to facilitate illegal “alternative remittance” operations — an unlicensed form of money transfer that circumvents formal banking channels.

This scheme was reportedly revived after their previous company, also engaged in unauthorized currency exchange, was shut down by authorities.

Both Pakistani suspects were arrested in Khaitan, and tools used in the illicit fund transfers were seized. They were identified as:

Authorities have also traced the international arm of the syndicate operating from Pakistan and are currently coordinating with overseas agencies to dismantle the broader network.

The Ministry of Interior reiterated its commitment to leveraging advanced technologies — including biometric verification — to detect, prevent, and prosecute financial crimes, reaffirming its dedication to safeguarding national security and the financial integrity of Kuwaiti society.