Kuwait’s “War on Drugs” Cuts Trafficking by 90%, Eyes Death Penalty

Kuwait’s crackdown on drugs sends prices soaring and pushes new laws that could bring the death penalty to more offenders.

Publish date: Monday، 27 October 2025 Reading time: 1 min read

Kuwait’s “War on Drugs” Cuts Trafficking by 90%, Eyes Death Penalty

Kuwait’s war on drugs is showing major results. The country has managed to cut drug trafficking by 90% in just one year, according to First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah.

Because of the shortage, narcotic pill prices have skyrocketed—what used to cost one Kuwaiti dinar now goes for seven or eight. “We’ve been in a real war against drug trafficking,” Sheikh Fahad said while opening a new rehab facility for recovering addicts.

Tougher Laws Ahead

Even with this success, Kuwait isn’t slowing down. A new anti-drug law is expected soon, and it’s set to get tougher. The draft proposes expanding the death penalty to include prisoners caught trafficking inside jails or officials who abuse their power to smuggle drugs.

Currently, capital punishment applies only to major traffickers. But under the new law, even those who help bring drugs into prisons could face the same fate.

Rehabilitation and Prevention Efforts

Alongside strict enforcement, the government also wants to give recovering addicts a second chance. Plans are being discussed to help them return to their jobs after treatment, preventing relapse.

The Interior Ministry has been busy over the past year with massive drug busts, seizing huge amounts of hashish, heroin, and pills, and arresting hundreds of suspects. Sheikh Fahad also revealed plans for random drug testing across security and military institutions to keep personnel clean.

He thanked Kuwait’s anti-drug teams, parents, and teachers for helping report addiction cases, saying the combined effort has earned the country two Arab awards for drug control success.

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Kuwait’s “War on Drugs” Cuts Trafficking by 90%, Eyes Death Penalty

Tougher Laws Ahead

Rehabilitation and Prevention Efforts

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