68% drop in seized narcotics... and 75% in psychotropic substances
- Significant efforts under the directives of the First Deputy Prime Minister and with direct supervision by Brigadier General Qabazard and Brigadier General Hamad Al-Sabah
- Seized quantities dropped from 1,025 to 327 kilograms of various types
- A 75% decline in psychotropic substances, falling from 2.014 million pills to 656,000 pills
- A 16% and 14% decrease in cases and defendants, respectively
In parallel with the legal track, which has been characterized by stricter penalties for drug-related offenses, both consumption and trafficking, security efforts have been intensified to combat smuggling and trafficking in narcotics and psychotropic substances. These efforts aim to trace the supply chains back to the criminal networks responsible for pumping toxins into the country, thereby protecting youth, who are the primary targets of this trade.
While the new Drugs Law contributed to an approximately 80% reduction in drug smuggling operations, security agencies undertook substantial efforts to monitor and track any smuggling shipments. They successfully intercepted about 95% of drug shipments before they could be distributed.
A comparison between the statistics for the first six months of this year and the same period last year, both issued by the General Directorate for Combating Narcotics, reveals the extent of the decline in drug seizures. The quantity of seized drugs fell by 68%, dropping from 1,025 kilograms in the first half of last year to 327 kilograms in the first half of this year.
The comparison also showed a 75% decrease in the seizure of psychotropic substances, falling from 2.014 million pills last year to 656,000 pills this year.
Consequently, the number of cases and defendants decreased by 16% and 14%, respectively, dropping from 1,451 cases involving 1,864 individuals to 1,228 cases involving 1,604 individuals.
Behind these figures lie intensive security efforts led by officers of the General Directorate for Combating Narcotics, under the directives of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, and with direct supervision by Director General Brigadier General Mohammed Qabazard and his deputy, Brigadier General Sheikh Hamad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah. They have wielded the sword of the law against drug dealers and traffickers, and anyone attempting to harm the country and its people, with the goal of ensuring that no dealer or trafficker escapes the grasp of justice. They succeeded in dismantling many of these networks in record time, relying on effective local and international cooperation in confronting the drug scourge that plagues many countries, along with the serious crimes associated with it, such as murder, theft, robbery, and money laundering.
As part of the Narcotics Control Department’s efforts, the movement of shipments arriving from abroad is tracked and monitored, including their clearance through transit, until they reach their final destination and recipients. Those involved are then apprehended in a legal and professional manner following the issuance of the necessary authorization, and are brought to justice to face legal proceedings.
The statistics issued by the General Directorate for Combating Narcotics regarding its operations during the first six months of this year included a summary of weapons seized, in addition to narcotics.
A separate statistic from the Narcotics Control Department for July last year revealed the seizure of 34 kilograms of various drugs, in addition to 117 liters of liquid narcotics and 120,704 pills of psychotropic substances. In the field of weapons, five pistols and 30 rounds were seized.
Regarding case statistics, July recorded 206 cases against 262 defendants, involving offenses ranging from drug importation and trafficking to consumption. Additionally, 20 misdemeanor drug cases were registered against 24 defendants. Ninety-nine residents were deported in cases related to drugs. The month also saw 65 addiction-related complaints filed.
The General Department of Narcotics Control, under the leadership of its Director General, Brigadier General Mohammed Qabazard, and his deputy, Brigadier General Sheikh Hamad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah, successfully tracked all methods employed by drug and psychoactive substance traffickers and organized crime networks, as well as their smuggling and distribution techniques. This was achieved through security plans that included continuous monitoring and follow-up of all potential routes used by smugglers, aiming to dismantle their operations before they could distribute these toxins and to dry up the sources of drugs within the country. Excellent results were achieved, leading to a decline in smuggling and trafficking rates, as well as in related criminal cases, and a reduction in previously prevalent incidents of murder, robbery, brawls, and money laundering.
The Ministry of Interior, in cooperation with relevant authorities and civil society organizations, was keen on holding seminars, disseminating awareness messages, and organizing exhibitions focused on identifying narcotic and psychoactive substances. These initiatives aimed to educate parents about the dangers of drug use and its impact on their children, as well as the tactics and methods used by drug dealers and traffickers who target youth segments to drag them into the quagmire of addiction.
The Ministry of Interior contributed to delivering a warning message about the threat drugs pose to society and the family. It also handled reports from parents regarding their children’s addiction with utmost confidentiality, aiming to spare the user at home from legal penalties and to manage the case discreetly by admitting the addict to rehabilitation centers for recovery.
In the context of legal and judicial measures taken against those apprehended in smuggling, trafficking, and consumption cases, the statistics detailed the number of such cases during the aforementioned six months. A total of 1,228 drug-related cases, involving importation, trafficking, and consumption, were registered against 1,604 defendants. Additionally, 684 residents were deported in connection with trafficking and consumption cases, 350 complaints were filed against addicts, and four deaths linked to drug consumption were recorded.
Regarding the statistical details for the first half of the current year, the total seizures during the first six months amounted to 327 kilograms of various drugs, in addition to the confiscation of 17 liters of liquid narcotics and more than 656,000 pills of different psychoactive substances.
