Kuwait drug seizures plunge 68%, psychotropic pills fall 75% in first half of 2026
Kuwait drug seizures plunge 68%, psychotropic pills fall 75% in H1 2026res in Kuwait fell sharply during the first half of 2026, with the quantity of drugs seized dropping by 68 percent and psychotropic substances by 75 percent compared with the same period last year, according to official statistics.
A comparison of General Administration for Drug Control figures showed that drug seizures declined from 1,025 kilograms in the first half of 2025 to 327 kilograms during the same period this year. Psychotropic substances fell from 2.014 million pills to about 656,000 pills. The number of drug-related cases also decreased by 16 percent, from 1,451 to 1,228, while the number of defendants fell by 14 percent, from 1,864 to 1,604.
The first-half 2026 results included the seizure of 327 kilograms of various drugs, 17 liters of liquid drugs and 656,401 psychotropic pills. Hashish accounted for the largest quantity, at about 189 kilograms, followed by marijuana with more than 60 kilograms, and crystal meth with about 36 kilograms. The figures were recorded amid intensified efforts to monitor smuggling routes and track shipments from their points of departure abroad through transit stations to their intended recipients.
The efforts were carried out under the directives of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahd Al-Yousef, with follow-up by General Administration for Drug Control Director General Brigadier General Mohammed Qabazard and his assistant, Brigadier General Sheikh Hamad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah.
The administration also continued to work with local and international partners to intercept drug shipments and arrest traders and promoters before the substances reached the market. The anti-drug effort also included preventive measures, including awareness campaigns and cooperation with relevant authorities and civil society organizations to highlight the dangers of drugs and the methods used by promoters to target young people.
The administration also dealt confidentially with reports from families concerning addiction cases and directed them to treatment and recovery centers.
Drug seizures: first half of 2025 vs 2026
| Substance | 2025 | 2026 |
| Hashish | 609 kg | 188 kg |
| Methamphetamine | 302 kg | 36 kg |
| Heroin | 11 kg | 11 kg |
| Marijuana | 41 kg | 60 kg |
| Chemical drugs | 54 kg | 17 kg |
| Cocaine | 1 kg | 12 kg |
| Psychotropic substances | 2 million pills | 656,000pills |
