Maritime Risk Intelligence Blog

Shuwaikh Port Busts Iranian Drug Smuggling Operation

Written by Kuwait Times | June 24, 2021 at 7:00 AM
Customs officers at Shuwaikh Port foiled an attempt to smuggle nearly 17 kilograms of shabu (methamphetamine) hidden in rice sacks in a food supplies’ container arriving from Iran.

The operation came less than 24 hours after a similar case in which customs officers foiled an attempt to smuggle 5.4 kilograms of shabu in a shipment of candy bars.

The Director-General of Customs, Counselor Jamal Al-Jalawi, said Iran’s shipping line is considered one of the dangerous lines because of the many smuggling attempts, stressing that the new smuggling methods include hiding drugs among foodstuffs, but the alert customs officials are always on the lookout to keep a tap on the drug smuggling activity.

Al-Jalawi indicated, six kilos of shabu was found in a container. He added, cooperation between the GCC countries and the exchange of information have contributed to seizing drugs on several occasions, especially drugs inside foodstuffs such as potatoes, pomegranates, chocolate, bread and others.

The Shuwaikh Customs Officer, Saleh Al-Harbi, told Al-Rai the drugs were hidden inside Iranian rice bags. The street value of the seized 6 kilos of shabu is believed to have a market value of half a million dinars. He explained the goods were for a food importing company. The entire issue has been referred to the concerned authority. The inspection was attended by Deputy Director General for Customs Ports Affairs Suleiman Al-Fahd and Director of Public Relations Abdullah Al-Mutairi.

Download our 2021 counter narcotics report.