Interior Ministry: Two suspects arrested for stealing state-owned sand and selling it in Al-Wafra - Sarmad

The General Directorate of Criminal Investigation, represented by the Ahmadi Governorate Criminal Investigation Department, has arrested two Syrian nationals for stealing sand from state-owned lands in the Al-Wafra area, transporting it, and selling it for financial gain. This operation is part of ongoing security efforts to protect state assets and combat encroachments on them.

The Ministry of Interior stated on Sunday evening that the arrests followed surveillance of the suspects extracting and loading sand without authorization using three vehicles: two transport trucks and one excavator. It was determined that one truck was rented at a monthly rate of 141 Kuwaiti dinars, and the excavator was rented at a monthly rate of 193 Kuwaiti dinars.

The ministry added that upon confrontation with the evidence against them, the suspects confessed to stealing sand from the site, transporting it, and selling it to farmers in the Al-Wafra area for 15 dinars, using the proceeds for their personal benefit.

The Ministry of Interior reaffirmed that sand and natural resources are national wealth owned by the state, and that their theft, excavation, and unauthorized sale constitute an infringement on public property and state assets. Such acts are classified as felonies—specifically, misappropriation of public funds or facilitating such misappropriation—rather than simple theft offenses, in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 1 of 1993 concerning the protection of public funds and the Kuwaiti Penal Code.