KUWAIT CITY, July 13: The Ministry of Interior announced that the Public Security Sector successfully uncovered an illegal alcohol manufacturing operation inside an abandoned residence in the Sabah Al-Salem area.

According to an official statement, authorities received reports indicating that Asian nationals were frequently visiting an abandoned house, raising suspicions of illicit activity. In response, security patrols were promptly deployed to the area to conduct surveillance and monitor the situation closely.

During the surveillance, officers observed a bus driven by an Asian national exiting the premises. The vehicle aroused further suspicion due to its connection with the house under watch. Upon stopping the bus, security personnel immediately detected a strong foul odor coming from inside. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of approximately 1,160 plastic bottles, all suspected to be filled with alcoholic substances prepared for illegal distribution. The suspect was immediately detained for further investigation.

Officers then accompanied the suspect back to the abandoned house, where they made a significant discovery—a fully equipped underground alcohol manufacturing facility. Inside, authorities found:

The Ministry confirmed that the suspect, along with all seized materials, was handed over to the relevant legal authorities. Investigations are ongoing, and appropriate legal action will be taken under Kuwaiti law.

Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to combating illegal alcohol production and distribution, urging the public to report any suspicious activity that may threaten public safety or violate the law.

KUWAIT CITY, July 13: The Criminal Court, presided over by Judge Mutab Al-Ardi, has sentenced a Kuwaiti citizen and two Gulf nationals to seven years in prison with hard labor, following their conviction in a major citizenship fraud case spanning three decades.

The court also ordered the defendants to return all illegally obtained funds and imposed a financial penalty exceeding KD 473,000.

According to the charges brought by the Public Prosecution, the three individuals were found guilty of forging key documents (including a Kuwaiti citizenship certificate, birth certificate, and debit card) between 1994 and 2024, with the intent of unlawfully acquiring financial and state benefits reserved for Kuwaiti nationals.

In its verdict, the court affirmed its confidence in the findings of the officer from the Nationality and Passports Investigation Department, whose confidential inquiry uncovered a scheme involving all three accused.

The investigation revealed that the first defendant, a Kuwaiti citizen, colluded with the second defendant, a Gulf national, to falsely register the third defendant (the son of the second) as his own to add him to his citizenship file.

Based on this fraudulent claim, the first defendant submitted falsified information to the General Directorate of Nationality and Travel Documents, which enabled the third defendant to unlawfully obtain a Kuwaiti civil ID, passport, and citizenship certificate.

The court ruled that all three defendants be held equally responsible, sentencing each to seven years of imprisonment with hard labor, in addition to full restitution and a substantial financial fine.

The case is regarded as one of the more significant rulings in recent years involving citizenship fraud and misappropriation of state resources.

KUWAIT CITY, July 13: The Capital Investigation Department successfully ended the evasion of a Kuwaiti citizen wanted in connection with four financial cases involving amounts exceeding one million Kuwaiti dinars.

The suspect was arrested following a carefully planned operation that prevented any possibility of resistance. Authorities devised a strategic ambush where one of the department’s patrol vehicles deliberately positioned itself behind the wanted individual’s car, simulating a traffic delay. When the suspect stepped out of his vehicle (apparently to assist or investigate) the officers swiftly took him into custody and transferred him to the Investigation Department.

According to a security source, the Capital Investigations Department had received intelligence that the wanted citizen was present at a diwaniya (social gathering place) in Farwaniya Governorate, accompanied by a relative. Acting promptly on this information, the department dispatched a specialized team to the location.

The team tracked the suspect’s vehicle and executed the arrest seamlessly without confrontation. The detainee was subsequently referred to the General Department for Implementation to proceed with the ongoing legal process.

This successful operation highlights the proactive measures and coordination by Kuwait’s law enforcement agencies in apprehending fugitives involved in significant financial crimes.