KUWAIT CITY, Aug 18: Kuwait’s General Directorate of Coast Guard has thwarted an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of narcotics intended for distribution within the country, as part of its ongoing efforts to safeguard maritime borders and combat all forms of smuggling.

The operation began when the Coast Guard Operations Room, using drone surveillance, detected a boat whose occupants were retrieving bags from the seabed. A specialized force from the Naval Formations Department and the Maritime Security Department was immediately dispatched, intercepting the vessel and arresting those on board.

Authorities confirmed that three individuals were apprehended: Muhammad Ibrahim Mansour Al-Manaseer, a Ministry of Interior officer; Nasser Jassim Muhammad Al-Mulaifi, an employee of the General Administration of Customs; and Walid Muhammad Hazem Gharbia, a Palestinian resident.

Upon inspection, officers discovered eight tightly sealed bags containing 319 packages of narcotics, with an estimated street value of KD 1.3 million.

The Ministry of Interior stressed that no one is above the law, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening control over territorial waters and enhancing the readiness of its field and technical units to combat smuggling and protect society from the dangers of drugs.