Kuwait city highway
The move came after months of continuous monitoring and tracking of the criminal network as part of the ministry’s efforts to counter money-laundering, bribery, illicit gaining and illegal acts that jeopardize public interests, the ministry said in a press statement. Image Credit: AFP

Dubai: The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior announced yesterday that a money laundering ring has been dismantled with police arresting two suspects and seizing valuable assets in a massive operation across the country.

The move came after months of continuous monitoring and tracking of the criminal network as part of the ministry’s efforts to counter money-laundering, bribery, illicit gaining and illegal acts that jeopardize public interests, the ministry said in a press statement.

After completing relevant investigations, police forces raided the hideout of the ring’s mastermind and main suspect at a chalet in the southern Bnaider area.

Police have also searched four other sites used by the suspect including a house, a farm in the southern Al-Wafra farms area in Al Ahmadi governorate, and two apartments - one in Kuwait City and the other in Al Salmiya district in the Hawally governorate.

Security forces which raided the sites confiscated several valuable assets such as luxurious and classic cars, motorbikes, expensive watches and jewellery, sums of money in different currencies, and boxes of alcoholic drinks.

The relevant bodies have arrested one suspected ring member at Kuwait International Airport prior to his departure from the country, the ministry disclosed. The ministry stressed that investigations are ongoing to apprehend all members of the network and once all investigations are completed, the suspects will be put on trial.