KUWAIT: Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah said on Sunday that the new anti-drugs law, which stipulates tougher penalties for traffickers, smugglers and dealers, will come into effect on Dec 15. The minister said in statements issued by the interior ministry that with the new legislation, Kuwait opens a new chapter of combating all types of drug-related crimes by making penalties harsher and more comprehensive.
“The new law imposes harsher penalties for all types of drugs and psychotropic substances. It constitutes a strict deterrent … for crimes of importing, smuggling, manufacturing and cultivation of drugs,” the minister said. The legislation expands cases punished by the death penalty or life term, coupled with hefty fines of up to KD 2 million. He stressed that the interior ministry will continue its war against drugs without any leniency for those who threaten the security of society.
Sheikh Fahad said the new legislation stipulates harsher penalties on crimes of trafficking, dealing, selling, buying and promoting drugs in any form. It specifically increased penalties for using minors in drug-related activities and committing the crime in places used for rehabilitation, treatment and education, or in prisons. It also tightens penalties on establishing and running drug gangs or exploiting public jobs in drug crimes.
The minister said large quantities of drugs and pills have been confiscated by authorities during the past few years and scores of drug smuggling attempts have been foiled, adding that the new law further strengthens the capabilities of security authorities to combat drugs. Despite its strict measures, the law maintains a humanitarian dimension, offering legal avenues for treatment — either through voluntary admission or via addiction reports filed by relatives up to the third degree. It guarantees full confidentiality of personal data and prescribes penalties for disclosing sensitive information or filing malicious reports.
Sheikh Fahad revealed that the general directorate of public relations and security media will launch a nationwide awareness campaign under the slogan “Safeguarding Our Homeland” to introduce the public to the law’s provisions, penalties and treatment pathways. The campaign will run across traditional media, official ministry platforms, cinemas, exhibitions and public electronic screens, in cooperation with relevant state bodies.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Saad Al-Safran issued a decision on Sunday forming a special task force at the public prosecution to combat trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants. The decision comes as a part of implementing the national strategy to prevent trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling, and to reinforce Kuwait’s commitment to relevant international and regional agreements.
The team will be tasked with activating the national referral system for victims within the public prosecution and developing unified procedures for identifying and protecting potential victims. It will also prepare unified models to document cases and judicial procedures for victims of trafficking in persons, in addition to preparing a database for cases of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants.
The public prosecution said that forming the team reflects its approach to promote the rule of the law, develop instruments to protect victims and ensure that domestic procedures are consistent with the country’s international obligations, especially in light of the continuous development of crime patterns.
