The Ministry of Interior announced on June 23 that its General Directorate for Drug Control arrested 29 suspects in separate operations targeting dealers and promoters as the Criminal Security Sector intensified actions against narcotics trafficking and abuse across Kuwait. Officers recovered thousands of illicit pills, hundreds of grams of various drugs, preparation equipment and 115 Kuwaiti dinars suspected as trafficking proceeds, according to the ministry. All suspects and seized materials were referred to competent authorities for legal action.
The ministry’s statement listed the seized items as 11,936 Lyrica capsules along with 606 grams of methamphetamine and 25 additional sachets of the substance. It also detailed 1,170 grams of marijuana in three bags, 612 grams of hashish, 200 grams of synthetic cannabinoids, 35 grams of heroin, 248 Captagon tablets and 307 methadone tablets. Officers further recovered 10 milliliters of wax, seven digital scales, 14 bags of rolling papers, empty packaging sachets and the cash amount linked to drug sales.
Comparable operations have occurred regularly in 2026 under the same agencies. A mid-June ministry statement reported 14 arrests and the seizure of 1.425 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1.015 kilograms of hashish, 365 grams of marijuana and smaller quantities of heroin plus Lyrica capsules and scales, according to Kuwait Times. In February the ministry announced 16 arrests that yielded 880 grams of methamphetamine, 5,000 Captagon tablets, 745 grams of hashish and related tools. These repeated actions illustrate the persistent focus on disrupting supply networks.
The General Directorate for Drug Control relies on intelligence gathering and surveillance to execute such preemptive strikes. Operations typically result in the simultaneous recovery of substances, packaging materials and financial proceeds that sustain illegal trade. A 2021 study examining Kuwaiti drug seizure data from 2015 to 2018 documented fluctuating methamphetamine volumes, with approximately 6,500 pills taken in 2015 before annual declines, according to an article in the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Regional trends have since shown increased circulation of synthetic drugs, prompting heightened enforcement measures.
In its announcement the ministry said security campaigns against drug dealers and promoters will continue with full determination. It added that legal action will be taken against anyone involved in trafficking, promoting, using or handling narcotics and psychotropic substances. The operations aim to limit drug availability and associated risks, the ministry stated. Authorities continue to process cases through standard judicial channels following each sweep.
