Al-Rai reported on September 29 that inspectors from the General Administration of Customs at the Salmi port became suspicious of a vehicle attempting to depart Kuwait and subjected it to a detailed search and customs verification. The examination yielded three Captagon pills together with a securely concealed strip of Larika tablets. A hardened powdery substance believed to be either methamphetamine or a chemical compound was recovered pending laboratory analysis to confirm its precise nature.
The same search located 28 cartons of cigarettes stashed in various spots throughout the vehicle according to the Al-Rai account. Officers prepared security and commercial violation reports before impounding the car involved in the incident. The suspect together with the seized materials was referred to the General Administration for Drug Control for required legal processing.
Salmi border crossing has featured in several prior smuggling cases according to various local reports. In July 2025 customs foiled a bid to smuggle 22 cartons of cigarettes hidden in flour bags designed specifically for concealment Al-Jarida reported at the time. Authorities in that case coordinated with the criminal investigations department to identify those responsible for preparing the shipment.
In 2024 the General Administration of Customs announced the seizure at Salmi of around 36,000 tons of tobacco along with 66,000 cartons of cigarettes and other prohibited items. Director General Abdullah Adel Al-Sharhan thanked staff for their efforts in that operation. The administration warned that smugglers of narcotics and banned goods would face legal consequences and strict procedures.
No nationality was released for the individual stopped in the latest incident at the time of the Al-Rai report. The General Administration of Customs maintains systematic monitoring at all land border points to intercept illicit movements. Coordination with specialized anti-narcotics units forms a standard step following such discoveries.
Past operations at the same crossing have involved both inbound and outbound traffic subject to similar levels of scrutiny. Powdered substances and pill forms have appeared repeatedly alongside commercial goods such as cigarettes in earlier interdictions. The authority continues joint work with other security agencies to apply customs rules across all ports.
