KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Interior Ministry announced Thursday the arrest of what it described as the country’s largest criminal network smuggling and distributing the controlled substance Lyrica, seizing nearly 800,000 capsules and a large quantity of Lyrica powder.

In a statement, the Ministry said the General Department for Drug Control, under the Criminal Security Sector, led the operation which dismantled the international ring that was importing and promoting the psychoactive drug in Kuwait. The confiscated items are valued at “large sums of money,” the Ministry added.

According to the statement, the main suspect — a Kuwaiti national already serving time in Central Prison — is known to authorities for multiple drug trafficking cases and has several convictions on record. Investigators tracked one of his accomplices, described as a stateless resident (bidoon), who was caught selling capsules to an undercover source. Continued surveillance led authorities to a remote livestock pen, or jakhour, in the Kabd area that the group had been renting through a Kuwaiti intermediary for KD 600 per month.

During the raid, “the suspect put up violent resistance, causing damage to a security vehicle,” the ministry said. Inside the facility, authorities discovered large quantities of Lyrica capsules and powder, along with tools used for packaging and distribution.

Further investigation revealed the inmate had orchestrated the shipment of a large drug consignment from an unnamed Asian country via air freight. Customs officers were alerted, and upon inspection of the cargo terminal, authorities found “seven large boxes” packed with Lyrica capsules.

The ministry stressed that the General Department for Drug Control remains committed to “intensive efforts to monitor and apprehend drug traffickers and promoters,” adding that “anti-narcotics officers will remain a strong shield against this dangerous scourge.”

 KUWAIT: Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi on Thursday launched the 10th edition of the annual national blood donation campaign, coinciding with the 35th anniversary of the brutal Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.

Speaking at the launch, Al-Awadhi said the three-days campaign honors the sacrifices of Kuwait’s martyrs and reflects national unity across government, military, and civil society sectors. He urged citizens and residents to donate blood at all Ministry of Health centers, including the Central Blood Bank in Jabriya, noting that over 100 blood bags were collected in the first two hours of the campaign.

Assistant Director General of the General Directorate of Security Relations and Media at the Ministry of Interior, Colonel Yousef Mirshed affirmed the ministry’s continued support for such initiatives, emphasizing their humanitarian and social dimensions alongside security duties.

Director of Blood Transfusion Services Dr. Reem Al-Roudhan said the campaign has been running for a decade to promote voluntary donation and save lives. Last year, about 95,000 units were collected, with a 4 percent annual increase. She pointed to the effective participation of the military corps, represented by the Ministries of Defense, Interior and the National Guard, in addition to civil society institutions and private sectors. — KUNA

KUWAIT: With nearly 3 million migrant workers living in Kuwait, the government is reviewing its labor and residency laws to strengthen protections and align with global standards, senior officials said Wednesday on the occasion of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

Ambassador Sheikha Jawaher Ibrahim Al-Duaij Al-Sabah, Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights Affairs, said Kuwait is reviewing several key laws — including those governing residency, private sector labor, domestic work and anti-trafficking — to better align with international standards.

“The number of migrant workers in Kuwait is estimated at around 2.95 million, which calls for increased public awareness, for employers to uphold their legal and ethical responsibilities, and for the state to play its role in providing a safe work environment and ensuring legal protection,” she said.

Sheikha Jawaher said Kuwait’s approach to combatting human trafficking includes strengthening legislation and improving coordination through the Permanent National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling. The committee brings together government entities, with the Foreign Ministry playing an active role.

She also highlighted Kuwait’s cooperation with civil society organizations and international partners such as the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the International Labour Organization (ILO) in an effort to share expertise and build national capacity.

Separately, Minister of Justice and head of the national anti-trafficking committee Nasser Al-Sumait said Kuwait’s response to trafficking must be a continuous institutional effort. “Protecting people from trafficking is no longer a choice, it’s a national responsibility,” he told KUNA.

He said Kuwait’s strategy balances prevention, legislation, and victim care, rooted in transparency and accountability, while adapting to modern digital challenges. Public awareness, he added, remains the “first line of defense.” Kuwait established the anti-trafficking committee in 2018 with a vision of creating a society free of trafficking and migrant smuggling. The United Nations observes July 30 each year to raise awareness about human trafficking and support victims’ rights. — KUNA