Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled inspects a packet of drugs busted in a recent raid.

KUWAIT: The Interior Ministry was able to confiscate nearly 20 million illicit pills, in addition to 420 kg of hashish and large amounts of mind-altering drugs during the past eight month. A total of 1,031 cases were registered, 1,374 suspects were sent to concerned authorities, while 235 suspects were deported during the same period, Interior Ministry's Assistant Undersecretary for Criminal Security Major General Abdelhameed Al-Awadhi said.

The latest success by the Drugs Control General Department (DCGD) happened due to the direct support and follow up by Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and Ministry Undersecretary Lieutenant General Suleiman Al-Fahd and their support of the department with the most modern equipment and highly qualified personnel, he added.

The current situation the region is going through contributes greatly to increasing attempts of drug trafficking towards Kuwait and the Gulf states, he noted. "Our region is still targeted, and witnesses several breaches and trafficking operations carried out by some international gangs," he said.

Security men are facing these gangs, he said, stressing the ministry's keenness on supporting all efforts exerted so as to combat drug. He affirmed that the State of Kuwait is combating this scourge decisively, referring to the importance international cooperation in combating the drug trade.

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Adel Hashash, head of the ministry's general department for relations and security, said in a similar statement that the ministry is paying much attention to the issues of drug to maintain society through combating the scourge that requires permanent awareness on its societal, security and economic risks. He referred to the family's key role in protecting its children from the risks of the scourge and others.

By Hanan Al-Saadoun