Kuwait Tightens Drug Laws With Death Penalty

Kuwait has proposed strict new changes to its Anti-Narcotics Law, and the consequences for drug-related crimes just got a lot more serious. The committee formed to review and fix procedural loopholes in the law has submitted its recommendations, and a new draft law is now in place.

Acting Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah created the committee, with Advisor Mohammad Rashid Al-Duaij as chairman. Their mission? To curb the spread of drugs, fix gaps in the law, and increase penalties across the board.

Join our FREE WhatsApp channel to dive into a world of real-time engagement!

Here’s What You Need to Know About the New Law

The most eye-catching change is the introduction of the death penalty for certain drug-related crimes. Here are the key amendments in the draft law:

• Death Penalty for Drug Trafficking
  • Anyone caught trafficking narcotics or psychotropic substances could now face the death penalty and a fine of up to KD2 million. Previously, the max punishment was just seven years in prison.
• Drug Trade in Prisons
  • Selling or sneaking drugs into a prison, or helping someone else do it, also carries the death penalty.
• Misusing a Job Position for Drug Crimes
  • Government employees who use their job to traffic drugs will face the death penalty.
• Sharing Drugs Without Compensation
  • Giving drugs to two or more people, even for free, could now lead to a death sentence.

Trading Drugs for Favors

• Asking for a favor—legal or not—in exchange for drugs is punishable by death.
• Expanded Drug Testing and Surveillance
• The law doesn’t just focus on penalties—it also introduces wide-reaching random drug testing:
• Mandatory tests for marriage applicants, people applying for driving licenses, and government jobs.
• Random tests for all military personnel, regardless of rank, in the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, National Guard, and Kuwait Fire Force (KFF).
• School and university students will also face random drug testing.
• Refusing a test, unless you’re a student or getting married, can lead to up to 4 years in jail.

Stricter Penalties Across the Board

• More jail time for using drugs in schools, gyms, or prisons.
• Higher penalties for committing violence under the influence of drugs.
• Police can now arrest people on suspicion of drug use alone.
• Just being around drug users can get you three years in jail, even if you didn’t take anything.
• Encouraging someone to try drugs can also land you three years.
• Doctors prescribing psychotropic drugs without a valid reason may get three years in jail.
• Pharmacies failing to secure these substances could be fined up to KD100,000 and possibly closed for five years.

Other Key Points

• Confidential reports on drug users can now be submitted online. These reports can result in forced rehab for up to six months.
• People who voluntarily seek addiction treatment won’t face criminal charges.
• The Minister of Health can suspend doctors who break narcotics rules.
• Cash rewards will be given to those who report drug-related information.
• Wearing clothes or sharing media that promotes drug use now comes with a fine.
• Drug case judgments will be enforced immediately.
• Drugging someone without consent carries a 15-year sentence, or possibly the death penalty if the victim later commits a drug offense.

A New Era in Drug Enforcement

This draft law marks one of the toughest crackdowns on drug use and trafficking in Kuwait’s history. The government is sending a strong message: drug-related crimes will not be tolerated. With higher penalties, random testing, and a focus on prevention, the country is stepping up its fight against narcotics in a big way.