Kuwait Proposes Harsher Drug Laws, Including Death Penalty and Mandatory Testing

  • 21/04/2025

Al-Rai has reported that a committee led by Counselor Mohammed Rashid Al-Duaij, formed by Acting Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, has submitted a report proposing amendments to Kuwait’s anti-drug laws. The aim is to close procedural gaps, eradicate drug-related crimes, and introduce significantly harsher penalties.

Key amendments include:

  • Death penalty and fines up to two million dinars for trafficking narcotic or psychotropic substances, replacing the earlier seven-year maximum sentence.

  • Death penalty for trafficking within prisons or facilitating the entry of drugs into prisons.

  • Death penalty for any public employee who exploits their job for drug trafficking.

  • Death penalty for distributing drugs to two or more individuals, even without compensation, for consumption or promotion.

  • Death penalty for anyone requesting a favor in exchange for drug delivery, even based on a promise.

  • Mandatory drug screening for marriage applicants, public job seekers, and driving license applicants.

  • Random drug testing for military personnel, students, and applicants in all ministries and educational institutions.

  • Up to 4 years' imprisonment for refusing drug tests without justification, excluding students and marriage applicants.

  • Harsher penalties for drug use in prisons, schools, or gyms, and for committing crimes under the influence.

  • Police granted authority to arrest on suspicion of drug use.

  • Three years' imprisonment for associating with drug users or encouraging drug use.

  • Up to 15 years in prison, or the death penalty in fatal cases, for coercing someone into using drugs or administering them unknowingly.

  • Three years' imprisonment for doctors prescribing psychotropic drugs without justification.

  • Pharmacies neglecting psychotropic substance storage could face fines up to 100,000 dinars.

  • Financial rewards for those reporting drug users or suppliers.

  • Fines for wearing or promoting pro-drug clothing or materials.

The proposed amendments reflect a sweeping crackdown on drug offenses and a broader strategy to address the issue through both legal deterrence and preventive measures.

Related News