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Indians And Nepalese Among 52 Held As Kuwait Cracks Down On Illegal Liquor Ring

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KUWAIT CITY, July 24 — In a dramatic crackdown led by Kuwait’s top security officials, authorities have dismantled a sophisticated criminal network running illegal liquor factories across six residential neighbourhoods in the capital. The coordinated sting, carried out under the direct supervision of His Excellency the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah, has resulted in the arrest of 52 individuals—including both male and female suspects of Nepalese and Indian nationalities—who were allegedly involved in the production, packaging, and distribution of locally brewed alcohol.

The operation unfolded on Wednesday, July 23, and included high-ranking officials such as Acting Director General of Kuwait Municipality, Engineer Manal Al-Asfour, Assistant Undersecretary for Criminal Security Affairs Major General Hamed Al-Dawas, and several senior figures from various cooperating government bodies.

Authorities revealed that rented homes in Mishref, Jaber Al-Ali, Al-Nahda, Faiha, Saad Al-Abdullah, and Al-Qusour had been converted into full-scale illegal liquor factories. These properties, located in quiet residential zones, were deliberately chosen to deflect suspicion and blend in with ordinary domestic life—while inside, barrels of raw ingredients, distillation equipment, and thousands of filled bottles were being churned out in industrial quantities.

Once the necessary legal warrants were obtained, elite teams launched simultaneous dawn raids on the targeted houses. What they uncovered was a well-oiled black-market enterprise: extensive quantities of brewing chemicals, thousands of plastic bottles pre-filled and ready for sale, and eight vehicles used to supply materials, distribute alcohol, and even provide basic provisions like food and water to the underground workforce.

Among those arrested were two suspects found with large amounts of cash and a money-counting machine, believed to be the gang’s financiers tasked with handling the profits from illegal sales. In a swift follow-up operation, the alleged kingpin of the network was also taken into custody after close surveillance revealed he had been directing operations by phone and coordinating with unknown individuals outside the country.

In total, the arrests included 30 men and 22 women, all of whom are now facing charges related to the manufacture and distribution of alcohol, which is strictly prohibited in Kuwait.

Authorities described the bust as a major victory in the ongoing fight against illegal alcohol production. “This operation is a clear message to all criminals and violators of our laws,” a Ministry of Interior spokesperson stated. “Security campaigns will continue without pause, and we will use all available resources to protect the safety, health, and values of our society.”

The Ministry has also urged the public to report any suspicious activities and reiterated its commitment to working closely with various state institutions to crack down on illegal networks operating within the country.

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Kuwait Cracks Down on Unlicensed Juvenile Drivers: 79 Arrested in Traffic Sweep

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Kuwait Cracks Down on Unlicensed Juvenile Drivers: 79 Arrested in Traffic Sweep

A file photo from a previous traffic campaign in Kuwait.

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 9: Traffic officers arrested 79 juveniles for driving without a license over the past seven days. They were referred to the Juvenile Prosecution and the necessary legal action was taken against them. The weekly statistics of traffic patrols indicated that 31,395 traffic violations were recorded, 29 vehicles impounded and 65 individuals referred to traffic detention.
The statistics also revealed the seizure of 66 wanted vehicles and arrest of 66 individuals wanted by law for absconding. Moreover, 126 Residency Law violators were arrested and three individuals were referred to the Drug Control General Department. The statistics indicated that the department dealt with 1,179 traffic accidents, resulting in 180 injuries. A security source reiterated the call for parents to closely monitor their children and prevent them from driving without a license to avoid legal accountability

By Munif Naif
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff

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Illegal Mobile Vehicles and Shops Targeted in Kuwait’s Ahmadi Clean-Up Drive

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KUWAIT CITY, Sep 9: Under directives from His Excellency, the Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and the Director General of Kuwait Municipality, the Ahmadi Governorate branch has launched a series of campaigns aimed at improving cleanliness and eliminating unauthorized operations across the governorate.

Kuwait’s Public Cleanliness and Road Works Department in Al-Ahmadi has intensified efforts to tackle illegal garages and abandoned vehicles. Authorities closed one square using concrete barriers to curb unauthorized activities, issued seven violations, removed 10 abandoned vehicles, and issued 39 warnings to offenders in the Fahaheel and Fintas areas. These measures highlight the municipality’s commitment to public order and cleanliness.

The General Cleanliness and Road Occupations Department, represented by the Fahaheel Cleaning Center, conducted inspections in the Fahaheel Industrial Area, removing two vehicles and issuing 16 violations against shops operating without proper municipal licenses.

A second campaign is underway in the Fintas area, particularly around Fintas Park, where authorities found several companies operating with valid Ministry of Commerce licenses. However, one food truck was removed for failing to obtain the required commercial license.

Muhammad Al-Hajri, Head of the Fahaheel Center, emphasized that daily operations will continue to ensure the eradication of illegal mobile vehicles and unlicensed shops, while maintaining the general appearance of Ahmadi Governorate.

As part of the ongoing initiative, authorities have closed one of the openings in Fahaheel’s Block 8, restricting access to heavy machinery such as trucks and trailers. Vehicles currently in state-owned yards are being tagged and removed as necessary. A new state-owned yard has also been established in the Fahaheel Industrial Area to support these enforcement efforts.  

The campaign underscores the municipality’s dedication to maintaining cleanliness, enforcing regulations, and improving public spaces throughout Ahmadi Governorate.

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Kuwait Municipality Cracks Down on Unlicensed Advertisements in Ahmadi

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Kuwait Municipality Cracks Down on Unlicensed Advertisements in Ahmadi

Municipality inspection teams during the Ahmadi campaign.

KUWAIT CITY, Sept. 9: The Kuwait Municipality recorded 47 advertisement violations during the launch of its first field inspection campaign in Ahmadi Governorate, the municipality announced on Monday.

The campaign, aimed at checking shops’ health and advertisement licenses, seeks to ensure compliance with regulations governing commercial and advertising activities.

Head of the inspection team in Ahmadi, Abdulaziz Al-Azmi, said in a press statement that the tours focus on verifying the validity of advertisement licenses and taking necessary regulatory measures against violators.

He stressed that failure to issue or renew advertisement licenses, or breaches of advertisement regulations, could lead to fines of up to KD 5,000. Violation reports will be issued in such cases, he added.

Al-Azmi explained that the Ahmadi campaign will be followed by similar inspections in all governorates, according to a timetable prepared by the Public Relations Department in coordination with the relevant authorities.

He urged shop owners to comply with municipal laws and regulations, noting that inspection teams from safety departments across the six governorates remain committed to enforcing the Kuwait Municipality’s systems through regular field campaigns.

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