Public Prosecution: State Intensifies Judicial Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking

Abdulkarim Ahmad: The Public Prosecution announced that Kuwait has maintained its Tier 2 ranking for the second consecutive year, according to the U.S. Department of State’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report, issued on the 8th of this month. The report based this classification on the state’s increased efforts compared to previous periods, with criminal prosecution taking precedence.

In a statement, the Public Prosecution clarified that it had initiated criminal proceedings against 64 suspects accused of human trafficking offenses, charging them under the provisions of Law No. 91 of 2013 concerning the fight against human trafficking and migrant smuggling. It also pursued related crimes connected to the principal offense, including money laundering and forgery of official and bank documents. The number of trafficking cases under investigation rose from three to eleven during the reporting period, and convictions were handed down against suspects in human trafficking cases.

The Prosecution added that the Attorney General established a specialized unit during the reporting period to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling. This unit was tasked with monitoring the implementation of the national referral mechanism, standardizing procedures for identifying and protecting victims, developing investigative methods, building a comprehensive database on these crimes, providing technical guidance to Public Prosecution members and law enforcement agencies, and ensuring that prosecutors received training on the proper legal characterization of trafficking cases. Additionally, a reporting service for these crimes was made available on the Prosecution’s website.

The statement highlighted the efforts of the Standing National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling and its member entities, reaffirming its continued role in prosecuting perpetrators, applying legal penalties, and protecting victims.