KUWAIT CITY, Aug 11: According to a study conducted by the daily, crimes committed by expatriates in Kuwait have increased significantly this year. The study highlighted that a large percentage of expatriates are involved in various illegal activities, including selling, promoting, and smuggling narcotics, selling visit and residency visas, tampering with electricity meters and bills, and stealing manholes and cables from government project sites.

Additionally, there are reportedly gangs that are involved in helping housemaids escape from citizens’ homes. Criminal networks have increasingly infiltrated various ministries, with many expatriates using contracts with companies to gain access and commit serious crimes. Recent referrals to the Public Prosecution have provided evidence of these suspicious activities.

Recent revelations by the Ministry of Interior indicate a two-fold increase in crimes related to tampering with entry visas, establishing fictitious companies, and trading in residency permits for expatriates. The ministry was able to monitor these gangs, arrest them and refer them to the Public Prosecution for necessary legal action.

On an almost daily basis, authorities have been apprehending gangs involved in the promotion and sale of various narcotics. This reveals the ongoing threat posed by networks that endanger young people with deadly substances. The study confirmed that citizens are directly impacted by these criminal activities, as crimes are targeting them. This is a dangerous indicator that the issue extends beyond isolated incidents. In addition, the study highlighted that public funds are being drained due to the continued operation of these criminal networks.