Strict measures taken to curb smuggling of subsidized food
Asian accused of running 10 gambling dens to be deported
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 23: A Kuwaiti citizen succumbed to injuries when his vehicle toppled on the Fahaheel Expressway.
Rescue men from the Operations Room of the Interior Ministry responded to a distress call about the incident and managed to remove the citizen from the wreckage but he had already dead. Criminal Evidences Men referred the body to Forensics.
Meanwhile, an Asian expatriate lost control of his vehicle, swerving and crashed into a signboard at the Khaitan-Farwaniya Intersection.
The motorist told security operatives that another vehicle suddenly crossed his path and he couldn’t help hitting the signboard. The vehicle was removed from the road and traffic was organized.
Subsidized food: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry called on the concerned monitoring bodies to take stricter measures to prevent smuggling of subsidized commodities after discovering that a large quantity of these commodities are being sold in other countries, reports Al-Qabas daily.
The ministry pointed out that the Cabinet had earlier issued a decision for the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Customs General Department, Kuwait Ports Authority (KPA) and Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) to take the necessary action to stop the smuggling of subsidized commodities to other countries.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry said about 1.7 million individuals receive subsidized commodities through ration cards and the total cost is estimated at KD 150.5 million per year.
The beneficiaries include 1.1 million Kuwaitis who receive 65 percent of the total subsidy costing KD 98.4 million per year; 90,300 other GCC citizens costing KD 7.7 million per year; 97,700 Bedouns costing KD 8.2 million per year; and 413,400 domestic workers costing KD 34 million per year. These domestic workers are allowed to use ration cards issued to 401,100 citizens; 7,133 other GCC citizens and 1,122 Bedouns.
Running gambling dens: A Bangladeshi, whose identity has not been disclosed, has been referred to the Deportation Center, reports Al-Anba daily.
The daily added, the man was arrested for allegedly running 10 gambling dens in the country in various districts. He was also trafficking in drugs.
However, when the Bangladeshi was arrested, police failed to find drugs on him. He is also said to have denied the charge of running gambling dens.
However, considering him a threat to public security, he will be deported administratively.
Drug pills seized: Customs officers at the Saad Al-Abdullah International Airport recently foiled the attempt of an unidentified Asian — arriving from a Gulf country — to smuggle 11,000 narcotic pills into the country, reports Al-Anba daily.
The daily added, the narcotics were hidden in cartons of foodstuffs. The contraband and the suspect have been handed over the General Department for Drugs Control.
Meanwhile, personnel from the General Department for Drug Control in coordination with the Hitteen post office arrested an Egyptian for attempting to smuggle 2,161 Tramadol pills into the country, reports Al-Anba daily.
The daily added, the pills were sent to the man in a parcel. According to sources, the suspect was taken into custody when he was collecting the parcel.
He has been handed over to the General Department for Drugs Control.
Smuggling cigarettes: Thousands of cartons of cigarettes have been confiscated by the Customs officers manning the Saudi border with Kuwait, reports Al-Rai daily.
The daily added, the cigarettes were meant for Saudi consumers because Saudi Arabia has doubled the price of tobacco last month and some Saudis bought cigarettes from Kuwait and some brands of cigarettes were out of stock as a result.
Some cooperative societies in Kuwait even refused to sell more than two packs per person.
Customs authorities on both sides of the border have stepped up inspections to prevent passengers from carrying more than two cartons.
The head of the Customs office at the Kuwait General Administration for Customs, Misha’an Al-Saeedi, said that 3,000 cartons of cigarettes have been confiscated over the past 10 days, 856 of which were confiscated at the Al-Nuwaiseeb border crossing, thus revealing coordination with Saudi Customs to prevent smuggling at ports.
‘Give bedoun jobs’: Acting Secretary General of the Central System for Remedying Status of Illegal Residents (CSRSIR) Lieutenant General Najeeb Al-Othman has addressed the Director General of Kuwait Fire Service Department Lieutenant General Khalid Al-Mekrad on engaging the services of Bedoun, reports Al-Jarida daily.
Al-Othman said the proposal is in the framework of cooperation between CSRSIR and different official authorities based on its policy of helping to raise the living standards of the segment. However, terms and conditions apply in the proposed appointment of Bedouns in Kuwait Fire Service for the country’s interests.
He affirmed the priority of employment under Article 8 is for the children of Kuwaiti women who participated in the census of 1965, and the children of martyrs and prisoners war, children of military personnel who participated in the Arab Wars and included in the census of 1965 who could be nominated for Kuwaiti citizenship, in addition to highly qualified personnel and those holding two years graduate diploma after completing secondary school.
He reiterated CSRSIR should be consulted before approving appointments.