Arab News
Kuwait times, Sun, Aug 17, 2025 | Safar 23, 1447
Kuwait busts major visa trafficking ring, arrests Asians
Kuwait:
Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior, represented by the
General Directorate of Residency, announced Wednesday the arrest of an
individual on charges of residency (visa) trafficking, along with several others
who had paid money to obtain residency permits in violation of the law.
According to the Ministry, the case began with
information about an Asian national registered under a company’s residency
permit and working as a representative for several other firms, allegedly
involved in trafficking residency permits. Investigations revealed that the
suspect served as a representative for 19 companies and managed nine of them
under agency contracts. A total of 150 workers were registered with these
companies.
The investigation led to the arrest of individuals
who admitted to paying between KD 350 and KD 900 to renew or transfer their
residency permits illegally. They acknowledged they were not employed by any of
the suspect’s affiliated companies. When confronted with their statements, the
main suspect admitted the charges, acknowledging he had embezzled the funds. He
further explained that he personally processed the transactions using the login
credentials of the Public Authority for Manpower and the Ministry of Interior,
without any involvement from the companies under whose names the permits were
issued.
All parties involved have been referred to the
competent authorities for legal action. The Ministry stressed that it will
continue working with the Public Authority for Manpower to inspect companies,
uncover residency trafficking cases, and arrest those responsible. It affirmed
that it will enforce the law without leniency and take all necessary measures to
deter such violations.