Minister recounts harrowing case of police officer murdering his sister because of drugs
KUWAIT: Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Saud Al-Sabah identified drugs and citizenship forgery as two of the gravest threats facing Kuwait today, speaking at a seminar on the new drugs law held Thursday at the Kuwait Institute for Judicial Studies. He stressed, “Drugs have destroyed Kuwait,” highlighting the urgent need to protect the nation and its youth. “While drugs are one of the most pressing challenges facing Kuwait, citizenship forgery poses an even greater threat.”
Sheikh Fahad noted that Kuwait’s wealth and stability have made it a prime target for criminal networks. “Kuwait is blessed with resources and people, but these very blessings make us a target. If it weren’t for this prosperity, we wouldn’t face drugs or the pressures of citizenship forgery,” he said. The Gulf nationals in general are targeted by organized drug trafficking syndicates operating both regionally and internationally. These groups employ sophisticated and insidious methods to smuggle lethal substances into communities, significantly increasing the responsibility of authorities to safeguard national security.
Police officer murders his sister
The Minister stressed that past leniency is over and no one can circumvent the law, Sheikh Fahad noted that in the past, the law in Kuwait could be broken with relative ease, but today that is no longer possible. “Today, no one can evade any provision of the law. The first I hold accountable are the men of the Interior Ministry. The law must be enforced to the letter.” Sheikh Fahad recounted a harrowing case that has weighed heavily on him and kept him awake since it occurred, involving a shocking act of violence within a family linked to drug abuse. The suspect, a police officer within the Ministry of Interior, murdered his own sister in January 2022.
Highlighting the extraordinary circumstances, Sheikh Fahad noted that the case, only now being addressed in late 2025: “Without the tireless efforts of the Interior Ministry, he would not have been apprehended until now. No parents, no siblings, no spouse came forward to file a complaint. Even years later, the family has not engaged with authorities,” he said. “The boy, now four years old, keeps asking where his mumis. Drugs have caused this devastation,” Sheikh Fahad said.
Resolving death row backlog
Sheikh Fahad also revealed the government’s plan to resolve a backlog of death row cases. Approximately 35 individuals had been on death row since 2013, and authorities are now expediting executions. “No one will remain in prison for more than six months waiting on hope. The last executions included people who waited 21 years, while others only waited a few months,” he said, underlining the commitment to enforce the law efficiently.
He explained that he coordinated with His Highness the Prime Minister to select a mix of old and new cases for immediate resolution, sending a clear message that prolonged delays will no longer occur. Sheikh Fahad revealed significant progress under the new drugs law, which strengthens penalties, enforcement, and rehabilitation programs. Nearly 90 percent of targeted drugs have been eliminated in the past year due to coordinated efforts by the Interior Ministry and judiciary. “The problem is huge… bigger than you can imagine. But with a fair judiciary, a firm and diligent prosecution, and committed personnel from the Ministry of Interior, we are making progress,” Sheikh Fahad said.
Protecting our children
Sheikh Fahad warned that youth aged 16 to 30 are the most affected demographic, stressing the urgent need to protect this generation. “What this generation faced, the next should never endure. We should protect our children and beloved family members. Kuwait deserves more from us.” Rehabilitation now focuses on former addicts, integrating them into roles that support law enforcement. Sheikh Fahad emphasized, “Those who have suffered the most will be the most effective allies in helping the Interior Ministry combat drugs. I am convinced they have endured the most and will assist the Interior Ministry more effectively than those who have never experienced addiction.”
He also emphasized the uniqueness of Kuwait’s approach to addiction treatment, challenging the notion that similar facilities exist elsewhere: no other country in the world has hospitals or hotels dedicated to rehabilitation comparable to Kuwait. Sheikh Fahad noted the full government support, led by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, in tackling the issue. Sheikh Fahad acknowledged that while imports are being intercepted, local cultivation is emerging. “There are still many drugs in Kuwait. Imports are being intercepted, yes, but cultivation still appears locally,” he warned.
Concluding his address, Sheikh Fahad called for national cooperation, stating that combating drugs is a shared responsibility. Families, schools, media, security agencies, and all citizens must work together to ensure that future generations do not endure the same suffering. He emphasized that the current approach marks a new era of strict legislation, societal awareness, and unified action, backed by His Highness the Amir and the full support of government institutions, to protect Kuwait’s youth and uphold the nation’s prosperity. Sheikh Fahad praised the timely leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad. “Thanks to God, we are blessed with His Highness at this time. I told him, ‘Your presence in Kuwait saved the country.’”
Stricter measures
According to Mohammad Rashid Al-Duaij, Counselor at the Court of Appeal and Chair of the Legislative Drafting Committee, Kuwait’s new anti-drug law represents the country’s first comprehensive anti-drug legislation in more than four decades, marking a shift from the principle of “moderation” to firm and structured deterrence.
“The world’s greatest criminal, the foremost terrorist, is the producer of drugs,” said Al-Duaij. He highlighted that the new law strengthens the country’s anti-drug framework through several key measures. The law introduces enhanced regulatory and preventive mechanisms, including oversight bodies, stricter control over substances, and penalties for promoting or facilitating drug use.
It also addresses medical oversight, aiming to prevent misuse of prescriptions while ensuring that legitimate treatment remains unaffected. Finally, the law imposes tougher consequences for trafficking and promotion, including new offenses for local practices and even minor exchanges, reflecting a more structured and firm approach to combating drugs. Al-Duaij highlighted that the old law struggled to address emerging substances, with gaps including unclear provisions for cases like “drug planting,” insufficient protection for users as victims, contradictory judicial rulings, and the proliferation of dangerous behaviors in public spaces.
Ministry of education’s role
Al-Duaij emphasized that the new law sends a clear warning to traffickers and promoters: exploiting loopholes is no longer possible, and even minor involvement in drug promotion carries severe consequences. He also stressed that users are often the first victims, with their families second. Psychoactive substances can cause hallucinations, delusions, and uncontrolled behavior, profoundly affecting the brain. The law includes a compassionate element: those who voluntarily seek treatment are treated differently from those apprehended during a crime, with the goal of saving lives before serious harm occurs.
With over 28 years of experience in the field, and as a concerned citizen and parent, Al-Duaij placed responsibility on the Ministry of Education. Speaking to Kuwait Times, he urged the integration of a simple, age-appropriate drug awareness curriculum in middle schools, teaching children two fundamental concepts: what is socially wrong (shameful) and what is religiously or morally forbidden (haram). He noted that practical knowledge, covering types of drugs, methods of addiction, and associated dangers, may not prevent all cases but can delay first exposure from age 14 to 20, making treatment and intervention far easier. Countries such as France, Germany, Japan, Australia and Canada have achieved remarkable success with similar programs, and Kuwait has the opportunity to become a regional pioneer.
Exploiting loopholes
According to Brigadier General Hamad Mohammed Al-Yousef Al-Sabah, Assistant Director General of the General Administration for Drug Control, traffickers exploited weaknesses in the old law, particularly for synthetic psychotropic substances with lighter penalties. He explained that Kuwait’s previous system, which maintained separate laws for narcotics and psychotropic substances, created contradictions, weak penalties, and confusion in prosecutions.
Many new synthetic substances, including the highly dangerous “shabu,” were classified under the lighter psychotropic category simply because the process to include them under the narcotics schedule was lengthy. This loophole encouraged traffickers to abandon traditional drugs and shift toward synthetic stimulants, knowing the legal consequences were far less severe. Technology created new layers of exploitation, allowing traffickers to operate from abroad and use platforms such as WhatsApp, Snapchat, and online games to reach children and teens.
The new law explicitly criminalizes digital promotion, online distribution networks, and cross-border coordination, while providing legal authority to pursue local intermediaries and coordinate with foreign authorities. Dr Hussein Al-Shatti, Senior Psychiatrist and Director of the Addiction Treatment Center, explained that the law unifies classifications, simplifies procedures, and protects those who voluntarily seek treatment. Individuals coming forward on their own are shielded from prosecution, with penalties applied only if they violate treatment rules or commit offenses inside the facility. “This is in the interest of both the patient and society. Recently, we have seen a notable increase in voluntary treatment. Previously, the lack of deterrence caused hesitation, but now a sense of responsibility and positive fear motivates people to seek help,” he said. The law also protects medical teams, ensuring that any acts of violence or destruction inside treatment centers are punishable, while preserving patients’ right to treatment.
