Colonel Mohammad Al-Aridhi, assistant director of the Drug Control General Department at Kuwait’s Interior Ministry, announced on June 23, 2026, an 80 percent decline in the quantities of drugs seized in the country since the new Anti-Narcotics Law took effect. The legislation has also caused certain narcotic substances to disappear from the local market while sharply reducing crimes linked to smuggling, distribution and trafficking, he said in remarks to Kuwait Television. The update comes as Gulf Cooperation Council states ready a unified awareness drive for the Joint Gulf Anti-Narcotics Week beginning Friday.
The Interior Ministry framed these results as direct outcomes of Decree-Law No. 159 of 2025, which unified the legal framework on drug control with deterrent penalties that can reach capital punishment for grave offenses. When the measure was issued in November 2025 and activated on Dec. 15 that year, the ministry described it as a comprehensive statute spanning 84 articles across 13 chapters. Al-Aridhi’s assessment underscores how the harsher sanctions have disrupted criminal networks that previously operated with relative impunity.
Kuwait Times reported that Justice Minister Nasser Al-Sumait stated drug cases had already fallen 44 percent in the first four months after the law entered force. That early data from late 2025 aligns with the broader 80 percent reduction in seized quantities now cited by anti-narcotics officials. Earlier laboratory records compiled by national authorities between 2015 and 2018, as analyzed in a study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, had documented thousands of annual abuse cases that provided a baseline for measuring subsequent progress.
The Joint Gulf Anti-Narcotics Week, timed to coincide with the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, will deploy coordinated educational messages, guidance on treatment and rehabilitation, and emphasis on family roles in prevention across all GCC countries. GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi previously declared that member states assign the highest priority to this issue to safeguard societies and bolster citizen security from the scourge of drugs. The campaign reflects a longstanding regional strategy of joint action and information sharing among anti-narcotics agencies.
Al-Aridhi noted a marked increase in voluntary reports from families concerning relatives struggling with addiction, a development he linked to growing confidence in legal pathways that allow treatment without automatic criminal charges. This trend has enabled earlier interventions and reduced the stigma that once deterred families from seeking official assistance. The official urged wider community participation in awareness programs to build on the law’s momentum.
Continuous coordination between Kuwait’s Drug Control General Department and counterpart agencies across the Gulf has supported the exchange of intelligence that underpins these gains. The ministry’s broader efforts target both supply reduction through enforcement and demand reduction via protection programs aimed at citizens and residents alike. Such collaboration with local and international partners has helped eliminate specific substances from circulation while sustaining pressure on trafficking routes.
Authorities encouraged the public to report suspected violations or request guidance through the dedicated hotline 1884141, where information is treated with strict confidentiality. The Drug Control General Department maintains this channel as a core element of its community outreach to minimize the spread and consequences of substance abuse. Al-Aridhi’s briefing on Tuesday reinforced the ministry’s commitment to leveraging both legislative tools and public engagement in its ongoing campaign.
