KUWAIT CITY (BN24) — Kuwaiti authorities announced the arrest of 67 people linked to the illegal production and distribution of locally made alcohol that has killed 23 people in recent days. The Interior Ministry confirmed late Saturday that several secret factories had been shut down in connection with the deadly operation.
Alcohol is banned in Kuwait, but underground networks produce it in unsafe and unsupervised conditions. Officials said six active factories and four others under construction were discovered in both residential and industrial districts, highlighting the scale of the illicit trade.
The Health Ministry said methanol poisoning cases tied to the tainted drinks have climbed to 160, with the death toll rising from 13 to 23 since Thursday. Most of the victims were Asian expatriates.
Authorities identified the head of the criminal network as a Bangladeshi national, who was taken into custody. Another suspect, a Nepali, reportedly explained how methanol was produced and distributed.
