KUWAIT CITY, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait announced Wednesday what it described as the largest drug seizure in the country's history, involving nearly five tonnes of raw powder used to produce nerve-related pain reliever Lyrica and about 4 million capsules ready for sale, with an estimated market value of 150 million Kuwaiti dinars (about 486 million U.S. dollars).
Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah, Kuwait's first deputy prime minister and minister of interior, said the seizure was made on Tuesday and included a fully equipped facility for producing the psychoactive drug, as well as equipment for filling and preparing capsules for distribution, according to the official Kuwait News Agency.
The minister, speaking at the closing ceremony of a national drug awareness campaign, said authorities would continue tightening controls and pursuing drug smugglers and dealers, while also expanding prevention and awareness programs.
He said that combating drugs requires coordinated efforts across government institutions in Kuwait, while the Interior Ministry would continue targeting trafficking networks and strengthening prevention and public awareness programs. ■
