The Directorate General for Drug Control has arrested 10 suspects in seven separate narcotics cases while seizing 20,000 Captagon pills and a range of other illicit substances and equipment, the Ministry of Interior announced. The operation also netted 500 grams of hashish, 84 grams of methamphetamine, 100 capsules of psychotropic drugs, seven Lyrica capsules and 28 tubes of chemical liquids, according to the ministry’s statement. In addition, authorities confiscated four weighing scales used to portion drugs, packaging materials and 1,940 dinars believed to be derived from illicit sales. The ministry reported that the cases encompassed both trafficking attempts and personal use.
In one of the incidents a suspect selling Captagon pills attempted to flee by ramming his vehicle into security patrol cars yet officers managed to stop the car and take him into custody. All 10 suspects together with the seized materials have been referred to competent authorities for legal action. The ministry described the raids as part of its sustained campaign to disrupt drug networks and safeguard society from narcotics threats. Such operations often involve coordinated efforts across different areas of the country.
Times Kuwait reported that the Directorate General for Drug Control continues to prioritize both large-scale trafficking and street-level distribution in its enforcement activities. The latest actions demonstrate the risks faced by officers during these interventions. Kuwaiti security forces have maintained pressure on narcotics activity throughout the year.
Kuwait has recorded several notable drug interdictions in 2026 including a February collaboration with Iraq that resulted in the seizure of more than 314,000 Captagon pills valued at around one million dinars. That action which also produced an arrest highlighted improved cross-border cooperation on narcotics enforcement. Such joint initiatives have become increasingly common as regional authorities address shared trafficking challenges.
A United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime assessment in its World Drug Report 2025 identified the Near and Middle East as the region most impacted by Captagon trafficking which primarily originates in Syria and Lebanon before heading to Gulf markets. The report highlighted record global seizures of amphetamine-type stimulants in recent years that have continued into 2024 and 2025. Kuwait’s latest actions contribute to the wider regional endeavor to dismantle these networks. UNODC data further points to evolving patterns as supply chains adapt to enforcement and geopolitical shifts.
Data compiled in the Organised Crime Index profile for Kuwait identifies Captagon and methamphetamine locally known as shabu as the predominant drugs in both domestic seizures and those linked to international routes. The index observed that Kuwaiti law enforcement has executed multiple high-profile busts targeting synthetic drug operations connected to global syndicates over recent years. Authorities continue to focus resources on intercepting these substances before they reach consumers within the country.
