The Ministry of Interior detailed that personnel from the General Department of Criminal Investigation dismantled the scheme as part of broader initiatives targeting commercial fraud and intellectual property infringements. Detectives determined that the duo had been refilling containers bearing well-known international, regional and local perfume brands with oil blends designed to approximate the original fragrances. These repackaged items were then sold and promoted as authentic products or sample testers intended for trial use.
Following a controlled purchase, officers detained the first suspect in the Mangaf area as he handed over three perfume bottles in exchange for 17 dinars. The market price for comparable genuine items stands at around 150 dinars, highlighting the scale of the deception that left buyers with products that failed to last. The man, who was already wanted on an absconding complaint, admitted to receiving a monthly salary for his role and guided authorities to the apartment serving as the preparation and storage facility.
Interrogation of the initial suspect led officers to the second individual, the proprietor of the storage unit, who was enticed and taken into custody. This suspect fully corroborated the statements provided by his accomplice, the ministry reported. Officials confiscated nearly 4,000 containers of perfumes and oils in addition to the equipment used for the refilling process, with both men and the evidence forwarded to prosecutors for appropriate legal measures.
The ministry had previously announced in October 2025 a similar raid in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh that resulted in the arrest of three Asian individuals operating an illicit perfume production site, where more than 15,000 counterfeit boxes and 28,000 bottles were seized before they could enter the market ahead of a major perfume exhibition. That facility was completely dismantled following the coordinated effort involving the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Kuwait Municipality. Such repeated actions underscore the persistence of counterfeit operations in the sector.
Consumers have frequently complained that such imitation perfumes fail to deliver the longevity and quality associated with genuine brands, often evaporating quickly or altering in scent over time. The ministry’s ongoing vigilance in this sector aims to shield buyers from substandard and potentially unsafe goods while preserving the integrity of legitimate trade. Public cooperation remains essential, with authorities encouraging reports of irregular commercial practices through established emergency channels.
