Kuwait dismantles human trafficking ring, suspects and others accused of providing facilities are arrested

Cairo: Kuwait said it has dismantled a gang involved in human trafficking by illegally bringing workers into the country in exchange for money.

The Interior Ministry said the racket obtained KD500 ($1,626) per employee from a Kuwaiti man and a Pakistani national by placing them under the sponsorship of a company.

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Investigations have revealed that the company involved in the illegal trade has 119 such employees on its sponsorship register. Police arrested suspects as well as others accused of providing facilities.

“They were referred to competent authorities to take necessary legal proceedings against them,” the ministry added in a statement.

The ministry promised strong action against human trafficking and the illegal facilitation of obtaining residence permits or iqamas in exchange for money.

In recent months, Kuwait announced the dismantling of several gangs dealing in iqamas in exchange for money, amid a brutal crackdown in the country against illegal residents.

Last week, the Interior Ministry said it had discovered and arrested a gang involved in falsifying official documents and trading residence permits in exchange for money.

The gang consisted of a Kuwaiti national, who owns a company, and a Syrian national.

The suspect illegally transferred the iqamas of employees resident in the country to the company’s registration in exchange for monetary amounts ranging between KD 300 and KD 500 per worker.

Police found that the total number of employees illegally registered under the sponsorship of the Kuwaiti citizen-owned companies reached 600.

In October, Kuwaiti authorities said they had dismantled an expat gang accused of illegally trading iqamas.

The ring consisted of Syrian, Egyptian and Asian nationals.

In August, the Ministry of Interior announced it would capture two extortionists and arrest their members involved in the iqama trade through fake companies.

The ministry also announced that it will deport more than 21,000 foreigners in nine months this year for violating the country’s residency and labor laws.