Manama: Kuwaiti security authorities have foiled an attempt to smuggle in around 250kg of hashish via the sea.
The interior ministry said the coast guards had acted upon a tip from a source it did not name.
“After verifying the information and taking all the legal and practical measures in such cases, the coast guards officers dealt with a small boat,” the ministry said in a statement. “They searched the boat and discovered 248kg of hashish. They arrested the five men on board and referred them to the competent authorities for legal action.”
The five traffickers were Iranians and the seized hashish had a street value of around 300,000 Kuwaiti dinars (Dh3,633,000) Kuwaiti daily Al Rai reported on Tuesday.
The sale and consumption of drugs is strictly prohibited in Kuwait and authorities have regularly warned they were resolutely committed to combating drug smuggling.
In their attempt to beat the security authorities’ vigilance, smugglers have resorted to various schemes to hide the drugs and get them into the country. A major bust occurred in 2015 when drugs with a street value of around 10 million Kuwaiti dinars were seized by the authorities in two separate raids.
A container carrying detergents from Lebanon drew the attention of customs officers after it remained unclaimed at the Shuwaikh seaport for more than three months.
When it was opened for inspection, the officers discovered around five million pills carefully hidden under detergent boxes.
In the second bust, airport customs officers found around two million pills hidden in 826 schools bags imported from Lebanon.
The cargo shipment that included 2,000 bags was claimed by a Syrian resident.
