KUWAIT CITY, Feb 12: In a major blow to smuggling operations, the General Administration of Customs foiled an attempt to illegally bring thousands of bottles of liquor into the country, concealed inside a shipment declared as iron sheets.

The operation unfolded after the Customs Investigation and Search Department grew suspicious of a container arriving from France belonging to a local company. The suspicion was triggered by prior monitoring and analysis of the company’s import activity. Although official documents stated the cargo contained iron sheets, a meticulous inspection told a different story.

Upon opening the container, inspectors uncovered approximately 3,144 bottles of liquor hidden in a sophisticated and clandestine manner, clearly intended to bypass customs controls and violate the country’s laws.

The seizure was carried out in the presence of His Excellency Saleh Mohammed Al-Omar, Deputy Head of the General Administration of Customs for Ports and Customs Investigation and Search Affairs. Authorities immediately initiated legal procedures and coordinated with the General Administration for Drug Control to take custody of the seized items and move forward with the arrest of suspects inside the country before referring the case to the competent authorities.

Customs officials reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to tightening oversight across all ports, stressing that smuggling attempts will be met with firm and decisive action to safeguard society and uphold the law.