KD 15 m worth liquor seized in largest ever Kuwait raid – Medical test for domestics; KD 61,000 overdue traffic fines

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KUWAIT CITY, Nov 4: A 37-year old Kuwaiti citizen and a 41-year old Iranian expatriate were arrested after officers from the Drugs Control General Department (DCGD) confiscated 180,000 bottles of alcohol worth KD 15 million from a warehouse in Sulaibiya area in what can be considered as the largest liquor raid so far in the history of Kuwait.

In a press statement issued by Ministry of Interior, the General Department of Public Relations and Media Security explained that DCGD, after receiving information about a Kuwaiti citizen involved in selling of liquor, formed a team for investigations.

After confirming the information and taking necessary legal measures, an undercover agent was sent to the Kuwaiti suspect for the purchase of 70 cartons of liquor worth KD 56,000. During the transaction, the suspect was arrested. He was discovered to hold a criminal record for drug peddling.

When questioned, he revealed that he received the liquor bottles from an Iranian businessman.

Securitymen arrested the second suspect and discovered that he has been hiding liquor bottles in a warehouse in Sulaibiya area. The team raided the warehouse to find about 15,000 cartons of liquor bottles.

Both suspects have been referred to the concerned authorities for necessary legal action.

The Undersecretary of Ministry of Interior Lieutenant General Sulaiman Fahad Al-Fahad, who was present at the location of the raid operation, lauded the DCGD officers for their careful planning and their dedication towards the safety of the country.

Medical test urged: Director General of Residency Affairs Department Major General Talal Marafie stressed the need to conduct medical checkups on domestic workers for the renewal of their residence permits.

In a press statement issued by Ministry of Interior, the General Department of Public Relations and Media Security revealed that the decision was taken by Ministry of Health in order to contain the spread of epidemics and diseases in Kuwait, adding that the decision also includes the domestic workers of 40 different nationalities who are already residing in Kuwait.

It said Major General Talal Marafie declared that domestic workers whose residencies are to be renewed will be given a temporary residency valid for one month until the end of their medical checkup with the Ministry of Health.

The department also urged sponsors to renew the residencies of their domestic workers prior to the expiry dates, stressing that fines will apply starting from the expiry date of the temporary residencies.

KD 61,000 traffic fines: In what is considered unprecedented in the history of Kuwait, a citizen whose identity has not been disclosed, owes the General Traffic Department KD 61,000 in overdue traffic citations, reports Al-Shahed daily.

The daily added, the citations are issued against his car and the cars of his family members.

Most of these citations are for speeding, crossing the red traffic light, parking in ‘No Parking’ zones and parking in slots reserved for the ‘Disabled’.

The daily added, this was discovered when the Traffic Citations Department of the General Traffic Department was listing the names of persons who own the GTD money, some of them more than a thousand dinars.

Project continues: The activities of the project launched last week by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Muhammad Al-Khaled Al-Sabah to improve communication between the Interior Ministry and society continues this weekend at the Gate Mall and Avenues Mall respectively. The weekly event starts in different malls from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm.

In this context, General Public Relations and Security Media Department stated the responsibility of each department in the Interior Ministry is explained through officers from the General Department of Public Relations and Security Media.

It also said different services are provided at the exhibition, which includes lifting of some blocked traffic violations. Also, citizens have the opportunity to pay traffic fines and book appointments for driving tests. It also covers the distribution of leaflets to citizens.

The sector said the project has been initiated upon directives from the deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Muhammad Al-Khaled Al-Sabah and followed up by the Undersecretary of Interior Lieutenant General Sulaiman Fahd Al-Fahd.

It pointed out that the project aims to improve communication between the Ministry of Interior and society, and especially educate citizens about negative phenomena and the dangerous impact on individuals and entire society. It also includes awareness program for children and the youth on the dangers of bad habits such as drug abuse and violence.

Hunt for defaulters: Financial sources disclosed that local banking sector has started preparing the blacklist of customers having delayed debt payment or refusing to present receipts for loans — whether or not the receipts are questionable, adding the banks are inclined to reject applications for personal loans based on the growing number of applicants manipulating Central Bank’s decision, reports Al-Shahid daily.

The same sources affirmed that about 95 percent of customers obtaining loans have delayed in presenting receipts and the rate of deficit in consumer financial facilities — moderate short-term personal loans given to clients by local banks to finance personal-consumable needs or medical bills or school fees, of which the client needs to provide proof, has reached KD 920 million from the total value of KD 1.17 billion dinars given out in loans.

They reiterated long-term personal loan facilities have reached KD 9.84 billion, and there’s high rate of dubious receipts presented by this caliber of clients to prove their financial expenditure since this type of loan is usually given for noncommercial objectives, particularly renovating or purchasing a house.

By Meshal Al-Sanousi

Al-Seyassah Staff and Agencies

This news has been read 8222 times!