in response to the government’s growing concern over the imminent threat of drugs, particularly to young people, and the rising number of drug defendants escaping conviction due to procedural errors or legal loopholes, the first deputy prime minister and minister of interior sheikh fahd yousef al-sabah has decided to form a committee headed by counselor mohammed al duaij.
this committee will work on drafting a law aimed at dealing with the gaps in current drug related legislation, keeping pace with the rapid developments in the methods of committing these crimes, and closing existing procedural loopholes.
the committee has finalized the draft law, with notable amendments including the establishment of a supreme council for combating drugs and intoxicants, chaired by the prime minister. this council will be responsible for submitting an annual report to his highness the amir, detailing developments in the fight against drugs.
the amendments also include expanding the death penalty for drug and intoxicant traffickers and imposing hefty fines, potentially amounting to millions of kuwaiti dinars.
furthermore, the law mandates medical examinations for individuals applying for marriage, driving licenses, weapons licenses, and public jobs to ensure they are free from drugs and intoxicants.
in addition, all military personnel, regardless of rank, in the ministry of interior, ministry of defense, national guard, and kuwait fire force, as well as school and university students, will be subject to medical examinations to detect drug use. those refusing the exam without justification will face up to four years in prison.
penalties have also been increased for drug use in prisons, schools, or sports clubs. doctors who prescribe psychotropic substances without medical justification will face imprisonment. pharmacies that negligently handle psychotropic substances will be fined kd 100,000 and may face years of suspension.
minister of interior and first deputy prime minister sheikh fahd yousef al-sabah made a commendable decision in forming this committee and issuing the recommended amendments. however, several areas should be given attention for a more comprehensive approach. these are:
1. it is important to include the ministry of education, the ministry of information, and religious institutions in community awareness campaigns about the dangers of drugs.
2. there should be explicit and implicit warnings about the dangers of drugs incorporated into school curricula.
3. agencies should be appointed to monitor youth behavior and address psychological issues early on. serious consideration should also be given to revisiting the ban on consuming certain prohibited items.
4. there needs to be an expansion of the professional and consistent use of social media to raise awareness about the catastrophic dangers of drugs.
5. special attention should be given to the rehabilitation of minor offenders, as research shows they are at a higher risk of becoming major criminals in the future.
6. lawyers should be prohibited from publicly announcing their success in acquitting clients, particularly in drug-related cases and especially after first instance court rulings.
7. it is essential that security personnel conduct their duties without abuse when dealing with suspects. there must be a balance between protecting public interest and upholding human rights. adequate training and qualification of police officers and security personnel in police sciences and procedural law are vital.
drugs enter the country through various channels. aside from the security forces, the only civilian entity responsible for combating drug smuggling is the general administration of customs. despite its important role, the general administration of customs has not been led by a competent head in recent years. therefore, we welcome the appointment of major general fahd mohammed ali al-rasheed as director general of the vital administration, along with his deputy for investigation and research saleh mohammed al-omar. both are renowned for their integrity, excellent qualities, and decisiveness.