Kuwait Busts Sand Theft Racket in Al-Wafra; Two Syrians Arrested

18/10/2026

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 18: Kuwait’s Criminal Investigation Department has arrested two Syrian nationals accused of stealing sand from state-owned land in Al-Wafra and selling it to farm owners for profit, the Ministry of Interior announced.

The arrests were made by the Ahmadi Governorate Investigation Department as part of ongoing efforts to protect state property and crack down on illegal encroachment on public land.

According to the Ministry of Interior, investigators caught the suspects allegedly extracting and loading sand illegally using two trucks and an excavator.

Investigations revealed that one of the trucks had been rented for KD141 per month, while the excavator was rented for KD193 per month.

When confronted, the suspects confessed to taking sand from the site, transporting it and selling it to farm owners in the Al-Wafra area for KD15 per load, with the proceeds going towards their personal benefit, the ministry said.

‘Stealing state resources is a felony’

The Ministry of Interior stressed that sand and other natural resources are national assets owned by the state, warning that their illegal extraction and sale constitute an attack on public funds and state property.

The ministry further clarified that such acts may be classified as a felony, rather than an ordinary theft misdemeanour, when the legal elements of misappropriating public funds or facilitating their seizure are established.

It cited Law No. 1 of 1993 concerning the protection of public funds, alongside the provisions of the Kuwaiti Penal Code.

The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing those involved in the illegal exploitation of state-owned resources and protecting public property from unauthorised extraction and commercial use