Video: Interior Ministry Arrests 3 Individuals Targeting Minors by Selling E-Cigarettes Hidden in Food Items

In the context of ongoing security efforts to protect minors and preserve the health and safety of future generations, the Criminal Security Sector, represented by the General Directorate of Criminal Investigations, arrested three individuals involved in selling and delivering electronic cigarettes to school students. The perpetrators concealed the devices within food items using deceptive methods designed to mislead parents and facilitate access for their children without detection.

The arrest operation followed intelligence reports regarding the spread of electronic cigarettes among some high school students. Investigations by the Capital Governorate Criminal Investigations Department identified a grocery store used to receive, prepare, and package orders in a manner that concealed their true contents.

Following the issuance of the necessary legal authorization, one suspect was arrested while delivering an order, and the preparation site was raided to apprehend the other suspects. This operation was conducted in cooperation with judicial police officers from the Municipality of Kuwait, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition.

The suspects confessed to their involvement in the activity. Two of them managed the grocery store, prepared the orders, and hid the electronic cigarettes inside food products to generate financial profit, while the third was responsible for deliveries, fully aware of the nature of the products. Appropriate violations were recorded by the competent authorities, and the seized items were confiscated.

Message to Parents:

The Ministry of Interior emphasizes that these practices reveal deceptive methods targeting minors by exploiting the ease of obtaining products through delivery services. This underscores the need to strengthen the partnership between security agencies and families to protect children from such targeting and exploitation.

The Ministry urges parents to closely monitor their children, pay attention to the nature of products they order via delivery services or purchase from commercial establishments, and enhance continuous communication and dialogue with them. It also calls for raising awareness about the dangers of smoking, thereby contributing to their protection and ensuring their health and safety.

The Ministry reiterates its commitment to continuing efforts to detect and arrest anyone targeting minors through such practices, with no tolerance for those seeking to exploit them and endanger their health and safety. Necessary legal measures have been taken against the suspects in preparation for referring them to the competent authorities.

The safety of our children is a shared responsibility, and cooperation between families and security agencies is fundamental to their protection.