Drug crisis hits Kuwait: Shocking surge in trafficking and addiction cases

In a staggering revelation that has rocked legal and social circles, Public Prosecution statistics have unveiled a drug epidemic spiraling out of control.

The year 2024 saw a record-shattering 3,374 cases of drug trafficking and abuse — a number not witnessed in six years — alongside 993 heartbreaking addiction complaints filed by devastated parents and families against their own sons and daughters. The total tally? A jaw-dropping 4,300 cases tied to narcotics and psychotropic substances.

And 2025? It’s already sounding alarm bells.

In just five months, nearly 1,500 new cases have been recorded, including 1,102 drug abuse and trafficking incidents and 355 family-filed addiction complaints — and we haven’t even reached the halfway point of the year.

Sources confirmed to Al-Jarida that the majority of these cases are tied to psychotropic pills and substances, with hashish and other narcotics also heavily in circulation. The increase from 2,666 cases in 2023 to 3,374 in 2024 paints a grim picture of Kuwait’s escalating battle with drugs.

But what’s truly chilling? The profile of the accused.

• Women now make up approximately 15% of those arrested, a stark and disturbing rise pointing to the growing infiltration of drugs into all layers of society, including among young women.
• The age of those involved spans generations, with the oldest suspect being a 70-year-old traveler caught returning with narcotics disguised as medication.
• Around 300 cases involved banned sedatives and drugs brought into Kuwait under false pretenses, some of which were dismissed when no criminal intent was proven.

The Public Prosecution is on high alert, operating round-the-clock with anti-narcotics units, issuing search and seizure permits, and conducting investigations under full legal safeguards. But even with these efforts, sources warn that the numbers are expected to continue climbing throughout 2025, potentially surpassing even last year’s disturbing totals.

This crisis isn’t just a law enforcement issue — it’s a societal emergency. Officials urge families to be vigilant, involved, and proactive in protecting their children from falling into the grip of addiction or the web of criminal networks.

Kuwait stands at a crossroads. Will society rise to confront this growing menace—or will the statistics continue their terrifying ascent?