Stricter penalties curb drug promotion, boost family cooperation
Anti-narcotics new law delivers early results as drug activity declines sharply; setback for drug gangs
Nearly two weeks after the new anti-narcotics law No. 159 of 2025 became effective, Kuwait has begun to record tangible results from the tougher penalties, amid security indicators pointing to a sharp decline in the activity of criminal gangs involved in drug smuggling and promotion, reaching very low levels.
A security source told Al-Rai that the Ministry of Interior has observed a significant reduction of narcotics movement in the country.
The source noted that the drugs currently being seized are limited to small amounts, reflecting the direct impact of the new law in paralyzing promotion and distribution networks and achieving its primary objective of protecting society from this dangerous threat.
The source also pointed to a marked increase in family awareness and cooperation with security authorities, as more families have begun to take the initiative to report their children who are addicted to drugs and seek assistance for their treatment. This step, he said, aims to safeguard their future and protect them from criminal prosecution.
The source explained that in more than 90 percent of reported cases, the authorities dealt with the information seriously and with full confidentiality.
Drug users were referred to addiction treatment centers and exempted from legal accountability, with their names not recorded in drug users’ registers, in accordance with the law, provided that the report was submitted by relatives before the individual’s arrest.
The source urged families facing drug use cases within their households not to hesitate or fear reporting, stressing that the law is strict once arrests are made, warning that penalties may reach life imprisonment or execution if suspects are caught in possession of drugs, whether for use or for promotion.
The source emphasized that security personnel across all sectors of the Ministry of Interior are continuing their efforts around the clock to combat the drug scourge, affirming that no one is exempt from punishment if caught.
The source added that the new law has closed all legal loopholes previously exploited by dealers, promoters, and users to evade accountability, noting that the coming phase will witness even greater firmness and preemptive security strikes.
