(Left) 19 Domestic Workers locked behind Iron doors (Right) Accused of human trafficking being referred to the Public Prosecution

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 22: In one of the most serious humanitarian cases in recent memory, the General Department of Criminal Investigation, through its Forgery and Counterfeiting Investigation Department, has dismantled an Asian-run human trafficking network operating in Kuwait. The operation targeted a notorious hideout in Fahaheel, known locally as the "Black Den of Fahaheel," which functioned as a clandestine prison for runaway domestic workers, forcing them into labor under harsh conditions.

Investigators uncovered that the gang had converted a residential property into an illegal detention center. The victims were confined in tightly secured rooms with iron doors and placed under constant surveillance. Contact with their families was strictly controlled and only allowed under the direct supervision of gang members, creating the illusion that the women were safe while concealing the extent of the criminal activity.

Further inquiry revealed that the traffickers approached expatriates under the guise of providing shelter and protection for runaway domestic workers. Once brought to the hideout, the victims were subjected to oppressive rules regarding their residency status and forced labor. Shockingly, the gang also recorded videos of the detained workers and used them to coerce compliance, threatening to share the footage with their families if they refused to obey orders.

The raid on the hideout resulted in the rescue of 19 runaway domestic workers, including one woman who had been held against her will since 2014, as well as six runaway men. Authorities also arrested six suspects of the same nationality, considered the core members of the trafficking ring. The group included four women and two men, all of Asian descent.

All suspects have been referred to the Public Prosecution for further legal action. The operation highlights the authorities’ commitment to combating human trafficking and protecting vulnerable expatriates from exploitation.