KUWAIT CITY, Feb 2: His Excellency the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, directly supervised the operation that led to the apprehension of an organized international criminal gang involved in electronic fraud, money laundering, alternative transfers, and bank forgery, as part of ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Interior to combat financial crimes.

The case came to light after a victim reported being defrauded via an electronic fraud operation through the information network. Investigations by the General Department of Criminal Investigation, led by the Hawally Investigation Department, revealed that the stolen funds were used to purchase smartphones within Kuwait using an unknown international number. The devices were collected by intermediaries and resold, with the proceeds circulated among multiple representatives until reaching companies belonging to one of the accused.

Authorities discovered that the companies were fictitious, created solely to launder illegal funds and give them a legitimate appearance. One of the accused left Kuwait for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan upon learning of the arrests, but was apprehended and returned to Kuwait on the same day in cooperation with Jordanian security authorities.

During interrogation, the accused admitted to establishing the fictitious companies at the request of individuals outside Kuwait to launder money and transfer it abroad. Investigations revealed that the accused deposited daily amounts through a money collection company, forged invoices to conceal the transfers, and laundered a total of around 6 million Kuwaiti dinars during the current month. Estimates indicate that since their establishment in 2023, more than 100 million Kuwaiti dinars have been laundered through these companies.

The funds originated from an organized international criminal group that created fake websites to defraud citizens and residents in Kuwait through bank forgery, electronic fraud, alternative transfers, and the circulation of money of unknown origin.

The operation also recovered 108,000 Kuwaiti dinars in cash from one accused before it reached the companies, as well as nine smartphones purchased through fraudulent operations. Nine suspects, including the owner of the companies used for laundering—who had registered the companies for an annual fee—were referred to the Public Prosecution along with seized funds and forged invoices.

Legal action was also taken in coordination with the Central Bank of Kuwait against the money collection company responsible for handling the accounts, after investigations revealed violations of its licensed activity, including storing cash in breach of regulations.

The Ministry of Interior emphasized that the operation highlights ongoing national efforts to combat electronic fraud, money laundering, and related financial crimes.