KUWAIT CITY, April 28: The Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) has been intensifying its efforts to combat fake addresses, canceling thousands of registrations after discovering that many individuals were not living at the addresses they had listed. In its latest move, PACI announced the cancellation of the addresses of 531 individuals, urging them to update their information within 30 days or face penalties as per Article 33 of Law No. 32 of 1982.

However, these measures have inadvertently led to the emergence of a black market, particularly affecting the large Asian worker community in Kuwait. This underground market has seen extortion in its most exploitative form, with "Address Merchants" preying on workers in need of a fake address to complete the process of obtaining a civil ID.

The price for a single fake address ranges from 100 to 150 Kuwaiti dinars. Many workers pay this fee, only to discover that their names are removed from the registered address after a few months by PACI, leaving it available for another person, and the cycle of fraud continues. One worker shared that he had purchased an address for 100 dinars, only to find it invalid after three months. When he contacted the sellers to resolve the issue, they demanded an additional payment for a new address, continuing the exploitation.

The rise of this black market is linked to PACI's crackdown on residency traders. The introduction of stricter regulations, such as limiting the number of workers allowed per apartment, has revealed that many Asian workers cannot provide legitimate housing addresses due to their communal living conditions, often exceeding the capacity set by PACI.

Observers noted that these regulations, aimed at curbing residency trafficking, have only worsened the problem. The authorities’ attempts to close loopholes in the system have uncovered a widespread issue where many workers are unable to find legal housing that they can register on their civil IDs. This has opened the door to exploitation by individuals profiting from the sale of fake addresses.

PACI's recent announcement in the Official Gazette highlighted the cancellation of 531 addresses, demanding that individuals affected by this move visit PACI to update their information. Those who fail to do so within the 30-day period will face fines up to 100 dinars, as stipulated by the law. This crackdown follows a directive from Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, which mandates that the address on the civil ID must match the actual residence of the cardholder.

Since the fire in Mangaf, PACI has been focusing its efforts on areas with a high concentration of expatriates, such as Hawalli, Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, and Mahboula. The surveys conducted in these areas revealed a high number of individuals registered at fictitious addresses. As a result, PACI has been canceling these addresses in batches, and the official Gazette now regularly publishes the names of individuals whose addresses have been invalidated.

To facilitate the update process, PACI has set up external centers to handle the growing demand. However, the high volume of people needing to update their addresses has led to congestion and delays in appointments. Individuals must submit several documents, including a lease contract, proof of property ownership, and a completed residency declaration form, either in person at PACI’s headquarters or via the “Sahel” app.

The crackdown on fake addresses is part of PACI's broader effort to ensure public safety, improve service delivery, and bolster the security infrastructure in Kuwait. By ensuring that civil ID addresses correspond with actual residences, PACI aims to improve the accuracy of its records and aid in law enforcement's ability to track individuals, enhancing security in the country.

PACI has called on all citizens and residents to cooperate with its efforts, urging them to update their residential data promptly to avoid penalties and contribute to a more secure and transparent system.