Criminal Investigation Department: Closes down non-compliant restaurant in Salmiya, detains 11 employees

The Ministry of Interior announced that the General Directorate of Criminal Investigations, represented by the Criminal Investigations Department of Hawalli Governorate and the Salima Criminal Investigations Office, in cooperation with the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition, seized a restaurant and a food storage facility that violated health regulations in the Salima area. This action was part of security efforts to protect public health and combat activities that contravene the law.

The Ministry of Interior stated in a press release that the seizure followed intelligence reports regarding the storage of food items under conditions that breached approved standards and their subsequent sale to customers. After conducting investigations and verifying the accuracy of the information, investigators, accompanied by inspectors from the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition, proceeded to the site. It was found that the restaurant was operating despite having been previously shut down by the Authority.

The statement added that the inspection revealed several violations, including operating the establishment after its license had been revoked or expired, opening a facility without a health license, utilizing additional spaces beyond the licensed area, failing to comply with technical and health requirements, and handling adulterated and untraceable food products.

It further noted that 11 employees working at the restaurant and storage facility were apprehended. It was also discovered that 8 of them were working without health certificates issued by the competent authorities, in violation of regulations governing employment and food handling.

The Public Authority for Food and Nutrition destroyed 114 kilograms of adulterated food and issued 18 violation notices regarding the observed infractions.