
Drug abuse spread in Kuwaiti society major cause for worry
KUWAIT CITY, June 14: Despite the ongoing 'internal' efforts to pursue drug dealers and users, and the introduction of legislative amendments in April stipulating the execution of drug and psychotropic substance dealers; statistics issued by the Public Prosecution for the first quarter of this year revealed the spread of drug abuse in Kuwaiti society. The newspaper obtained a copy of the statistics, which revealed that the number of complaints against children reached 265 from January to April, at a rate of two complaints per day.
It also showed that the number of drug and psychotropic substance cases investigated by the prosecution reached 773; including possession, trafficking, importation and use within the same period, at a rate of six cases per day. In light of the growing phenomenon and shocking figures, lawyers and experts have warned about the catastrophic repercussions of drugs, which go beyond health damage and the destruction of the mind and body to affect societal, economic and family security. Attorney Enaam Haider asserted that 'the scourge of drugs does not distinguish between the rich and poor, educated and illiterate. It destroys the nervous system and plunges people into a cycle of severe depression and psychosis, which results in family disintegration, wasted youthful energy, and crimes alien to society.' She pointed out the 'alarming increase' in the number of people seeking treatment, especially young people; while warning about the spread of new 'dangerous and adulterated' types of drugs sold at low prices, thereby, expanding the base of those at risk. Attorney Ali Al-Wawan described the relationship between drugs and crime as 'an unambiguous causal relationship;' indicating that the vast majority of robbery crimes, pickpocketing, embezzlement and some horrific murders and domestic assaults, are primarily motivated by financing the purchase of the next dose.
He added, 'in his desperate quest to satisfy his desire, the addict loses any sense of morality or fear of the law.' He stressed the seriousness of the crimes of trafficking, storage and promotion led by organized criminal networks that 'generate huge profits at the expense of the destruction of society.' Attorney Abdul Mohsen Al-Qattan highlighted the human cost hidden behind the numbers, saying: 'Behind every drug statistics are tragic human stories and families swept away by the fierce winds of addiction.' He pointed out the suffering of 'families groaning under the burden of debt to treat an addicted child, families losing their breadwinners behind bars, and mothers weeping over children killed by overdose or clashes with drug dealers.' He cited testimonies from courtrooms showing how the lives of promising young people 'turned into hell because of their first step into the world of drugs,' with the darkness of addiction driving them to commit acts that people would have been the most distant from.

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Stolen Vehicle Found in Hawally; KD 1,200 Spent on Drugs
KUWAIT CITY, June 14: The General Traffic Department in Hawally successfully closed a vehicle theft case after arresting the suspect and recovering the stolen car. The incident began on May 2, when a Kuwaiti citizen, born in 1970, reported that his 2018 bronze color saloon vehicle had been stolen from the Maidan Hawally area. He also mentioned the car contained KD 1,200 but did not initially accuse anyone. The case was handed over to the Investigations Department, which circulated details of the vehicle. A traffic patrol later located the stolen car with the suspect inside. Upon arrest, the individual confessed to stealing the vehicle and admitted that he had spent the KD 1,200 on drug use. Further investigation revealed that the accused had a criminal history related to both theft and drug-related offenses. The case file, along with the suspect's confession and background, has been referred to the Public Prosecution for further legal proceedings.


Arab Times
20 hours ago
- Arab Times
Drug abuse spread in Kuwaiti society major cause for worry
KUWAIT CITY, June 14: Despite the ongoing 'internal' efforts to pursue drug dealers and users, and the introduction of legislative amendments in April stipulating the execution of drug and psychotropic substance dealers; statistics issued by the Public Prosecution for the first quarter of this year revealed the spread of drug abuse in Kuwaiti society. The newspaper obtained a copy of the statistics, which revealed that the number of complaints against children reached 265 from January to April, at a rate of two complaints per day. It also showed that the number of drug and psychotropic substance cases investigated by the prosecution reached 773; including possession, trafficking, importation and use within the same period, at a rate of six cases per day. In light of the growing phenomenon and shocking figures, lawyers and experts have warned about the catastrophic repercussions of drugs, which go beyond health damage and the destruction of the mind and body to affect societal, economic and family security. Attorney Enaam Haider asserted that 'the scourge of drugs does not distinguish between the rich and poor, educated and illiterate. It destroys the nervous system and plunges people into a cycle of severe depression and psychosis, which results in family disintegration, wasted youthful energy, and crimes alien to society.' She pointed out the 'alarming increase' in the number of people seeking treatment, especially young people; while warning about the spread of new 'dangerous and adulterated' types of drugs sold at low prices, thereby, expanding the base of those at risk. Attorney Ali Al-Wawan described the relationship between drugs and crime as 'an unambiguous causal relationship;' indicating that the vast majority of robbery crimes, pickpocketing, embezzlement and some horrific murders and domestic assaults, are primarily motivated by financing the purchase of the next dose. He added, 'in his desperate quest to satisfy his desire, the addict loses any sense of morality or fear of the law.' He stressed the seriousness of the crimes of trafficking, storage and promotion led by organized criminal networks that 'generate huge profits at the expense of the destruction of society.' Attorney Abdul Mohsen Al-Qattan highlighted the human cost hidden behind the numbers, saying: 'Behind every drug statistics are tragic human stories and families swept away by the fierce winds of addiction.' He pointed out the suffering of 'families groaning under the burden of debt to treat an addicted child, families losing their breadwinners behind bars, and mothers weeping over children killed by overdose or clashes with drug dealers.' He cited testimonies from courtrooms showing how the lives of promising young people 'turned into hell because of their first step into the world of drugs,' with the darkness of addiction driving them to commit acts that people would have been the most distant from.

Kuwait Times
2 days ago
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Marines arrive in LA; Kuwaitis urged to lie low
LOS ANGELES: Hundreds of US Marines arrived in Los Angeles on Tuesday after President Donald Trump ordered their deployment in response to protests against immigration arrests and despite objections by state officials. The 700 elite troops will join around 4,000 National Guard soldiers, amping up the militarization of the tense situation in the sprawling city, which is home to millions of foreign-born and Latino residents. The small-scale and largely peaceful demonstrations — marred by sporadic but violent clashes between police and protesters — were entering their fifth day. The Kuwaiti Embassy in Washington on Monday urged Kuwaiti citizens in California, especially in Los Angeles, to be cautious and careful and follow local authorities' guidelines due to ongoing demonstrations and protests there. The embassy also asked Kuwaiti citizens to call it in case of an emergency. In downtown LA's Little Tokyo neighborhood at night Monday, scores of protesters faced off with security officials in riot gear, some shooting fireworks at officers who fired back volleys of tear gas. The unrest was sparked by a sudden intensification last week of Trump's signature campaign to find and deport undocumented migrants, who he claims have mounted an 'invasion' of the United States. California officials have stressed the majority of protesters have been peaceful — and that they were capable of maintaining law and order themselves. Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X that US Marines 'shouldn't be deployed on American soil facing their own countrymen to fulfill the deranged fantasy of a dictatorial President. This is un-American.' But Trump has branded the LA protesters 'professional agitators and insurrectionists'. 'If I didn't 'SEND IN THE TROOPS' to Los Angeles the last three nights, that once beautiful and great City would be burning to the ground right now,' he wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday. Trump has called for Newsom's arrest, while the president's ultra-loyal speaker in the House of Representatives, Republican Mike Johnson, on Tuesday declared the California governor 'ought to be tarred and feathered'. Earlier, demonstrators marching with banners and handmade signs yelled 'ICE out of LA' and 'National Guard go away' — a reference to immigration agents and Guard soldiers. One small business owner in the city, whose property was graffitied during the protests, was supportive of Trump's strong-arm tactics. 'I think it's needed to stop the vandalism,' she told AFP, declining to give her name. Others were horrified. 'They're meant to be protecting us, but instead, they're like, being sent to attack us,' Kelly Diemer, 47, told AFP. 'This is not a democracy anymore.' LA police have detained dozens of protesters in recent days, while authorities in San Francisco and other US cities have also made arrests. Trump's use of the military is an 'incredibly rare' move for a US president, Rachel VanLandingham, a professor at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles and a former lieutenant colonel in the US Air Force, told AFP. The National Guard — a fully equipped reserve armed forces — is usually controlled by state governors and used typically on US soil in response to natural disasters. The Guard has not been deployed by a president over the objections of a state governor since 1965, at the height of the civil rights movement. Deployment of regular troops, such as the Marines, on US soil is even more unusual. US law largely prevents the use of the military as a policing force — absent an insurrection. Speculation is growing that Trump could invoke the Insurrection Act giving him a free hand to use regular troops for law enforcement around the country. Trump 'is trying to use emergency declarations to justify bringing in first the National Guard and then mobilizing Marines,' law professor Frank Bowman, at the University of Missouri, told AFP. Bowman said the 'suspicion' is that Trump is aiming to provoke the kind of all-out crisis which would then justify extreme measures. 'That kind of spectacle feeds the notion that there is a genuine emergency and, you know, a genuine uprising against the lawful authorities, and that allows him to begin to use even more force.' The state of California has sued to block the use of the Guard troops and Newsom said he would also sue against the Marines deployment. In a statement on Monday, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said the department had not been notified that any Marines were traveling to the city and that their arrival 'presents a significant logistical and operational challenge'. – Agencies