(Interior Ministry): Three Arrested for Selling E-Cigarettes to School Students Hidden in Food Items
The Ministry of Interior, in cooperation with the Kuwait Municipality, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Public Authority for Food and Nutrition, arrested three individuals selling e-cigarettes to school students hidden in food items, as part of efforts to protect minors from the dangers of smoking.
Translated by Qiyas from كونا — Original source
Kuwait City, Oct 24 (KUNA) — The Criminal Security Sector, represented by the General Directorate of Criminal Investigations, arrested three individuals who were selling and delivering electronic cigarettes to school students by concealing them inside food items, in an effort to mislead parents and facilitate access for their children, in violation of the law that prohibits the sale of cigarettes to persons under the age of 21.
In a statement on Saturday, the Ministry of Interior said this action is part of its continuous efforts to protect juveniles and safeguard their health and safety. The ministry explained that the arrest operation followed intelligence reports on the spread of electronic cigarettes among some high school students. Investigations by the Capital Governorate Criminal Investigations Department led to the identification of a grocery store used to receive orders, prepare them, and package them in ways that concealed their true contents.
After obtaining the necessary legal authorization, one of the suspects was arrested while delivering an order, and the preparation site was raided. The other suspects were apprehended in cooperation with judicial police officers from the Kuwait Municipality, 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 profits, 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.
The Ministry of Interior warned that these practices reveal twisted methods targeting juveniles by exploiting the ease of obtaining products through delivery services. This underscores the need to strengthen partnership between security agencies and families to protect children from such targeting and exploitation.
The ministry called on parents to closely monitor their children, pay attention to the nature of the products they order via delivery services or purchase from stores, and enhance continuous communication and dialogue with them. It also urged raising awareness about the dangers of smoking to help protect their health and safety.
It stressed its continued efforts to monitor and arrest anyone targeting juveniles through such practices, with no tolerance for those seeking to exploit them and endanger their health and safety. It reaffirmed that “the safety of our children is a shared responsibility, and cooperation between families and security agencies is fundamental to their protection.”
The Ministry of Interior added that necessary legal procedures have been taken against the suspects, paving the way for their referral to the competent authority.
It is worth noting that the Anti-Smoking Law, which prohibits the sale or provision of cigarettes and tobacco products to persons under the age of 21, was issued in 1995. (End) A.H.K / A.A.H
