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Time of India
02-08-2025
- Time of India
Kuwait cracks down on largest-ever Lyrica trafficking ring: 800,000 capsules seized in major bust!
Kuwaiti authorities halted a massive Lyrica trafficking operation managed from inside prison/Representative Image TL;DR: Kuwait's Interior Ministry uncovered the country's largest drug distribution network, seizing over 800,000 Lyrica capsules directed from an inmate within Central Prison. The ring utilized a rented livestock enclosure in Kabad, air freight shipments from Asia, and repackaging tools to manage distribution. Authorities emphasize continuation of aggressive enforcement against international narcotics syndicates operating within Kuwait. In what officials called the largest narcotics bust in Kuwaiti history, authorities detained a multi-national smuggling network, confiscating over 800,000 Lyrica capsules after tracing the operation to a Central Prison inmate directing it from behind bars. The ringleader coordinated shipments from Asia via air cargo, storing the illicit goods covertly in a rented animal enclosure before distribution. According to the statement mentioned in Kuwait Times, the main suspect, a Kuwaiti national already serving time in Central Prison, is known to authorities for multiple drug trafficking cases and has several convictions on record. Investigators tracked one of his accomplices, described as a stateless resident (bidoon), who was caught selling capsules to an undercover source. Continued surveillance led authorities to a remote livestock pen, or jakhour, in the Kabd area that the group had been renting through a Kuwaiti intermediary for KD 600 per month. Investigation & network structure Authorities say the General Department for Drug Control (GDDC) of the Interior Ministry's Criminal Security Sector conducted weeks of surveillance before making arrests. The ring operated under the direction of Muhammad Hamza Abbas al-Muhamid , a convicted Kuwaiti prisoner who maintained operational control via mobile communication. Accomplice Rashid Shihab Rashid, a stateless Bedoon resident, was arrested selling Lyrica to an undercover agent. A remote livestock pen (jakhour) in the Kabad area was used as a warehousing and repackaging site, rented under a local citizen's name for KD 600/month. During the raid, one suspect resisted arrest, damaging law enforcement property. Authorities found packaging tools, powdered Lyrica, and the capsule stockpile, indoor on-site. International link and air freight smuggling Interrogation revealed shipments were coordinated from an Asian source, concealed in seven large cargo boxes arriving via air freight to Kuwait. Customs agents at the airport seized the packages after being alerted by the GDDC. Why this operation is significant Scale and Sophistication: Over 800,000 capsules seized and ring fully managed from a prison cell highlight bold criminal entrenchment. Symbolic Deterrence: Targeting a network led by a convicted inmate underscores government resolve to disrupt drug operations regardless of location or resources. Regional Coordination: The seizure reflects ongoing cooperation between Kuwaiti law enforcement and customs, signaling elevated vigilance on international drug trafficking via air and sea routes. What is Lyrica and why is it illegal in Kuwait? Among the drugs seized in Kuwait's largest-ever narcotics operation was Lyrica, the brand name for the prescription medication pregabalin, a substance now formally banned for sale in Kuwait's private pharmacies. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like M3M Great Freedom Sale – The Biggest Property Sale in India M3M Book Now Undo Lyrica and related medications such as gabapentin were reclassified by the Ministry of Health on January 10, 2024, from Table 4 (dispensable in private settings) to Table 2, restricting distribution exclusively to government health facilities. Historically used to treat neuropathic pain, epilepsy, and anxiety disorders, Lyrica can also produce sedative and euphoric effects, making it prone to misuse when obtained without medical oversight. This misuse became a significant concern, prompting health authorities to tighten its legal status. Possession or sale of pregabalin (Lyrica) outside approved channels is now a criminal offence, with penalties including jail terms for unauthorized users or distributors. The seizure of over 800,000 Lyrica capsules in the recent operation highlights Kuwait's intensified enforcement efforts not only against illicit street drugs but also against pharmaceutical substances diverted from regulated medical use. This operation marks a watershed moment in Kuwait's battle against organized narcotics distribution. The dismantling of a massive Lyrica network, directed from prison, smuggled via air freight, and hidden in livestock enclosures, demonstrates both the depth of criminal ingenuity and the growing precision of official countermeasures. Authorities reiterate their commitment to intercepting illicit drug flows and safeguarding public health, regardless of legal or logistical obstacles. FAQ 1. What drug was seized? Lyrica capsules, used illegally as psychotropic substances, over 800,000 units confiscated. 2. Who led the smuggling network? A Kuwaiti inmate, Muhammad Hamza Abbas al‑Muhamid, operating from inside Central Prison. 3. How was storage arranged? A rented livestock pen (jakhour) in Kabad was used for packaging and distribution logistics. 4. Where did the drugs come from? Shipments were traced to Asia and entered Kuwait via air cargo to be processed by accomplices. 5. Is this part of broader crackdown efforts? Yes, Kuwait continues large-scale operations, including joint actions with neighbouring countries like the UAE to intercept Captagon and other narcotics.
Arab Times
31-07-2025
- Arab Times
Kuwait Prisoner Ran a Multi-Million Dinar Drug Empire from Prison
KUWAIT CITY, July 31: In a major operation, Kuwait's Criminal Security Sector, represented by the General Department for Drug Control (GDDC), dismantled what officials described as the largest international drug trafficking network operating in the country, responsible for smuggling and distributing psychotropic substances, particularly the pharmaceutical drug Lyrica. Investigators revealed that the alleged ringleader, Muhammad Hamza Abbas Al-Muhamid, a Kuwaiti national, orchestrated the operation from inside the Central Prison, where he is currently serving time for previous drug-related offenses and has multiple judicial rulings against him. The case came to light after authorities began tracking the movements of Rashid Shihab Rashid (Farhan), a suspected accomplice (Bedoun/ Stateless)operating outside prison. He was caught selling psychotropic pills to an undercover agent. Further investigations led authorities to a stable in the Kabd area, used as a storage site. The location had been rented under the name of Ali Khalifa Ghayath Omair Al-Dhafiri for KD 600 per month. During the arrest operation, the suspect violently resisted, damaging several police vehicles. A search of the premises uncovered large quantities of Lyrica capsules and powder, as well as packaging tools used in preparing the drugs for distribution. Following the seizure, Al-Muhamid was transferred from prison for questioning, where he admitted to coordinating a large drug shipment from an Asian country via air freight. Working with the General Administration of Customs, drug control officers raided the cargo area and intercepted seven large boxes packed with Lyrica capsules. In total, authorities confiscated an estimated 800,000 capsules of psychotropic substances along with powdered Lyrica, valued at several million Kuwaiti dinars on the black market. The General Department for Drug Control reaffirmed its commitment to cracking down on drug trafficking and hailed the operation as a major blow to international drug syndicates. Officials emphasized that anti-narcotics personnel would continue to serve as a formidable line of defense against the spread of illicit drugs in the country.
