The Government of Kuwait announced this Monday the arrest of a member of the royal family of the Arab country for growing marijuana plants in his home. During the search, some 270 plants and more than five kilos of cannabis ready to be consumed were found, according to the statement from the Kuwaiti Ministry of the Interior.
“The efforts of the Criminal Security Sector, represented by the general anti-drug directorate, resulted in the arrest of a citizen of the ruling family who grows marijuana in his home,” reads the statement, which also reveals the arrest of three other individuals from Asian nationalities during the operation.
Among the inventory confiscated by the police in the same operation were also found 50 grams of hashish, 620 marijuana cigarettes, 21 grams of cocaine, six boxes of cannabis oil, 27 grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms, 4,150 phenethylline pills (amphetamine and theophylline ) and ten bottles of alcohol.
The arrested person from the Al-Sabah family has not been identified nor have any details been given of his position or position within the Kuwaiti royal family, but it was stated that “no one is above the law.” The same writing states that the police are continuing the search for others involved in drug trafficking and have published several images on their official social networks about this police operation.
This arrest occurs at a very turbulent time for the country’s Government. Last Friday, the new emir of Kuwait, Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, in office since December 16, 2023, announced the dissolution of Parliament and the suspension of some clauses of the Constitution for “a period not more than four years”, something he justified to protect “the superior interests of Kuwait”.
The new emir, named crown prince in 2020, served as Minister of the Interior and dedicated a good part of his career to the field of security and intelligence services. Within the Al Sabah family, some divisions have been reported within the family in recent years, as there are cross accusations of corruption or conspiracy.
At 83 years old, Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has two wives and is the father of 12 children. He assumed the high position after the death of his half-brother Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at the age of 86. The rich oil state has been mired for several years in a crisis between the executive and legislative powers, although, at the time of the appointment of the new emir, the “succession without turbulence” was highlighted.
