Kuwait Police Bust Illegal Vaping Scheme Targeting Students
Kuwaiti authorities have dismantled an alleged scheme involving the sale of electronic cigarettes to secondary school students through concealed food deliveries. Officials from the Ministry of Interior confirmed the arrest of three suspects accused of exploiting local delivery services to distribute restricted nicotine products while attempting to evade parental oversight. Authorities confiscated the seized products and issued violation notices.
The investigation was led by the Capital Governorate Criminal Investigation Department, with support from the Kuwait Municipality, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition. The operation centered on a local grocery shop where staff allegedly prepared and packaged illicit goods alongside food orders. Police apprehended one suspect during an active delivery and subsequently raided the business premises, detaining two additional individuals. After obtaining the necessary legal authorisation, police arrested the first suspect while he was delivering an order. Officers then raided the premises used to prepare the deliveries and detained two others. The third was accused of delivering the packages despite knowing what they contained. Kuwait launches online lost passport service. Fines over marriage contracts, kuwait imposes jail. Macron arrives in Kuwait to begin four-nation Gulf tour. UAE recalls face masks over contamination concerns. Why shelf life matters for Gulf food supply resilience.
During questioning, the three suspects reportedly admitted their involvement in the scheme. Authorities stated that two suspects managed the store and handled the concealment of products, while the third was responsible for executing the deliveries with full knowledge of the items being transported. While the investigation is ongoing, officials have not disclosed the total number of students involved or the duration of the illegal operation.
In response to the discovery, the Ministry of Interior has issued a warning to parents, advising them to remain vigilant regarding online food orders and packages received by their children. The ministry emphasized the importance of maintaining open communication with minors about the health risks associated with vaping and encouraged families to work closely with security authorities to protect students from such exploitation. And pledged to continue investigating those who attempt to exploit minors through such practices, the ministry stressed that safeguarding children required cooperation between families and security authorities.
These arrests arrive as Kuwait prepares to implement stricter regulations on all nicotine and tobacco products, effective January 1, 2027.
The upcoming measures include a complete ban on the sale of these products to individuals under the age of 21 and new restrictions on retail distribution.
Under these rules, sales through grocery shops, online platforms, and delivery services will be curtailed, and tobacco outlets will be prohibited from operating within 200 metres of educational institutions.
These regulations specifically cover electronic cigarettes, nicotine liquids, and other related delivery systems.
Authorities have initiated legal proceedings against the arrested suspects, who will be referred to the relevant legal bodies as the investigation continues. The government maintains its commitment to monitoring similar illicit practices that threaten the welfare of minors. Dataroid recognised in the Gartner Market Guide 2026.
