Kuwait and UAE Authorities Seize 3.75 Million Lyrica Tablets

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KUWAIT CITY, Mar 8: Two Kuwaiti citizens were arrested for the possession of drugs. The first was arrested at T4 terminal of Kuwait International Airport after he had arrived from the UAE with ten luggage containing one million Lyrica pills. The second is a drug dealer who is an accomplice of the first, and he was arrested in Jahra. The two citizens were referred to the concerned authority with the seized drugs for necessary legal action.

Meanwhile, the UAE security personnel arrested an Egyptian national who had 2 million and 750 thousand narcotic pills. The arrest was made based on Emirati-Kuwaiti security cooperation.

According to security sources, detectives received information about the arrival of a Kuwaiti citizen at T4 terminal of Kuwait International Airport in possession of bags packed with Lyrica pills. He was arrested upon arrival, and his bags were checked.

During investigations, he revealed that he was planning to meet his partner who is a drug dealer in Jahra. The latter was also arrested.

Through Kuwaiti-Emirati security cooperation and the exchange of information, the Emirati security authorities managed to arrest the third suspect – an Egyptian national who was found in possession of two million and 750 thousand pills.

The Ministry of Interior announced in a statement that in a joint operation between the Kuwaiti and Emirati ministries of Interior, three people were arrested in possession of 3,750,000 Lyrica pills.

The ministry said, “This operation was carried out based on the efforts of the Ministry of Interior to combat the scourge of drugs and psychotropic substances, track down their dealers and smugglers, and protect society from this devastating scourge, and in cooperation with the General Department of Customs and our brothers in the United Arab Emirates.”

The Criminal Security Sector, represented by the Drug Control General Department’s International Control Department, was able to arrest two people in possession of approximately 1,000,000 Lyrica pills, which they attempted to bring into the country through Kuwait International Airport. This arrest happened with the cooperation of the General Department of Customs. When the two defendants were confronted, they admitted that the seized items belonged to them, and were intended for trafficking and abuse.

They found a third person outside the State of Kuwait. Immediately coordination was made with the authorities in the sisterly United Arab Emirates. He was arrested and 2,750,000 Lyrica narcotic tablets were found in his possession.”

The ministry extended its sincere appreciation for the fruitful cooperation and quick and decisive interaction with the incident by the Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates in the process of arresting the accused in implementation of the Gulf agreements.

In a related context, the General Department of Customs said the customs officers at the Airport Customs Department dealt a new painful blow to drug traffickers by arresting a traveler coming from a Gulf country who was in possession of approximately one million Lyrica pills. This happened through the fruitful cooperation and joint coordination between the General Department of Customs, and the Drug Control General Department of the Ministry of Interior.

The statement explained, “Information was received from the Ministry of Interior to the Customs Investigation and Investigation Office about the arrival of a traveler accompanied by ten bags containing prohibited materials. He was arrested, and the bags were carefully searched. They found a large quantity of psychotropic substances that were wrapped in tightly sealed bags. Accordingly, the accused was arrested by the General Department for Narcotics and Alcohol Control in order to take the necessary measures.

The seizure was supervised by the Director-General of the General Department of Customs Abdullah Adel Al-Sharhan, the Assistant Undersecretary for Criminal Security Affairs Major General Hamed Al-Dawas, the Deputy Director-General for Customs Ports Affairs Osama Khalil Al-Shami, and the Director-General of Narcotics and Alcohol Control at the Ministry of Interior Brigadier General Muhammad Qabazard.

In conclusion, Al-Sharhan thanked the officials of the Customs Department and the Ministry of Interior for the great and strenuous efforts they exerted and the mutual coordination between the two sides, in order to protect Kuwait from the scourge of drugs and against anyone who dares to bring them into the country.

By Munif Naif
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff

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