Heroes of the Ministry of Interior... Thank you
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, His Excellency Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, stated that drug enforcement officers successfully seized the largest quantity of narcotics in Kuwait’s history, comprising approximately five tons of raw “Larica” powder and nearly four million ready-to-sell “Larica” capsules. The operation also uncovered a fully integrated manufacturing facility for the psychoactive substance, along with equipment for filling and portioning the capsules. He noted that the market value of the total seized items is estimated at around 150 million Kuwaiti dinars.
His Excellency the Minister commended the personnel of the General Directorate for Combating Narcotics who were instrumental in thwarting the largest operation of its kind involving the manufacturing and trafficking of “Larica,” awarding them a bonus in recognition of their security efforts that have protected Kuwaiti youth from these toxins. He emphasized that they deserve commendation from the Kuwaiti people and all who reside on this blessed land, as they are heroes given the risks they face while carrying out their duties, and their achievements are a source of pride and honor.
Director General of the General Directorate for Combating Narcotics, Brigadier General Mohammed Qabazard, said that cases of solicitation and drug trafficking recorded a significant decline during the first half of the current year compared to the same period in 2025, reflecting the effectiveness of security efforts and proactive strikes aimed at drying up their sources.
Kuwait is engaged in a decisive battle against those who distribute and traffic in narcotics, a fact underscored by recent official figures. The number of seized drug-related cases decreased by 13% in 2025 compared to 2024. More importantly, the number of the more dangerous “solicitation” cases dropped from 102 to just 15 during the first half of 2026 compared to the same period the previous year, while trafficking cases fell from 354 to 184, due to proactive security strikes and efforts to cut off smuggling sources. Furthermore, the market value of seized materials in 2025 exceeded $186 million, indicating the scale of the networks confronted.
A notable paradox is that addiction-related complaints rose by 14.9% during the same period. This does not necessarily indicate a worsening of the phenomenon; rather, according to officials at the Narcotics Control Directorate, it reflects growing trust among families and individuals in new measures and increased awareness of the importance of seeking treatment, particularly following legal amendments that granted users benefits encouraging them to seek treatment rather than conceal their condition out of fear of prosecution.
It is essential to examine the reasons behind youth falling prey to these toxins. Often, multiple factors contribute to deviance and unhealthy behavior, including peer pressure, bad company, and the desire to belong to a group; emotional voids within the family that lead young people to seek temporary escape from loneliness; curiosity during adolescence; and the ease of access to these substances. Additionally, weak psychological and religious resilience among certain groups, as well as the use of drugs as an escape from academic or professional pressures or untreated psychological crises such as anxiety and depression, play significant roles.
It is important to note that effective confrontation cannot rely solely on security solutions but requires an integrated system. This includes tightened security at borders and digital monitoring of promotional networks, alongside legislation that incentivizes seeking treatment rather than hiding, continuous family and community awareness campaigns, and cooperation between the Public Prosecution, the Ministry of Interior, health institutions, civil society, mosque preachers, and schools. A state that pursues traffickers with one hand must extend another to addicts for treatment, not just punishment.
Islam leaves no room for doubt regarding the danger of harming oneself and the body. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to Abdullah bin Amr, “Indeed, your body has a right over you” (reported by Al-Bukhari), affirming that caring for and preserving the body from all harm is a religious obligation, not a personal choice.
Jurists have derived a general principle from the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) saying: “There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm” (reported by Ibn Majah). This constitutes a fundamental tenet that prohibits anything that causes harm to oneself or others, including the use of any substance that destroys the body and mind.
Today, Kuwait combines firm security measures with therapeutic openness, a path that deserves continued development and enhancement. Yet the real battle begins with prevention: a supportive family, early religious and psychological awareness, and a society that extends a hand of treatment to addicts before addiction’s grip takes hold.
