Customs deny Iranians held at port

Duo nabbed for insulting cops

KUWAIT CITY, June 3: The General Administration of Customs has denied what has been posted in the social media that a number of Iranians have been detained inside the port without any legal basis, reports Al-Anba daily.

The Inspection Supervisor of Customs at Doha Port, Saad AlMutairi pointed out that before a dhow was anchored at the port, it had received information that the cargo on the dhow was counterfeit and the dhow was subjected to a thorough search.

After the contraband was seized, Al-Mutairi said, it was sent to the concerned department to determine the customs fine to be paid on the confiscated goods by the ‘smuggler’ to be followed by the release of the dhow.

The statement confirmed all sailors have the freedom to leave the country through any means of transport after coordinating their plans with the security director of the port who can facilitate their departure if they want.

This means the sailors remain at the port voluntarily. They have expressed their unwillingness to return to Iran and preferred to remain in rest houses where they are provided food, water and other services.

The administration concluded saying in such cases, the fine is paid by the smuggler which can help him leave the country or if a Kuwaiti contractor takes upon himself to settle the issue.

Meanwhile, the Kuwait Coastguard patrols have ‘seized’ a number of Iraqis aboard a fishing boat that had stopped working and apparently strayed into Kuwait’s territorial waters near the Bubiyan Island, reports Al-Rai daily.

The Kuwaitis have informed their Iraqi counterparts and efforts are underway to repatriate the men to Iraq.

And, the Hawally Prosecutor’s Office has ordered the detention of two men — a Dane and a Kuwaiti — for insulting two policemen and escaping from the scene, reports Al-Anba daily.

A security source said police rushed to an unidentified location after receiving a report that a Kuwaiti was beating a Danish woman on a street. The Kuwaiti, with the assistance of a relative of the woman, not only obstructed police but also humiliated them, escaped from the scene and took shelter in an apartment.

Police then got a warrant issued by the Public Prosecution, forced open the door of the apartment and seized the two men.