FazTimes Media, Kuwait City – A big surprise has caused a lot of worry in the Gulf region. Kuwaiti police have caught 67 people involved in a huge illegal alcohol-making operation. This operation made unsafe homemade drinks that killed at least 23 people. The authorities said they found six working factories and four more that were being set up in both residential and industrial areas after a long and detailed investigation.

The Ministry of Interior told everyone on X (formerly Twitter) that the person in charge of this illegal business was a man from Bangladesh. He had a team of helpers running a big bootlegging business. The ministry called this one of the biggest actions against illegal activities in recent years. The factories were disguised to appear normal to conceal their true nature, while they operated under very unsafe and unsanitary conditions.

A Dangerous Trade

The deaths happened because people drank alcohol made with methanol. Methanol is a type of alcohol that's used in things like paint thinners, fuel, and cleaning products. It's cheap to use, but it's very dangerous if someone drinks it. Doctors say methanol poisoning is difficult to spot at first. People might feel dizzy or have a stomachache, but the poison can quickly hurt the eyes, kidneys, and brain. Without treatment, it can lead to blindness, serious health problems, or even death.

According to the Ministry of Health, 160 people were taken to the hospital recently, and 23 of them died from the poisoning. Of those who were taken in, 51 needed special treatment for their kidneys, and 31 were on machines to help them breathe because they had trouble with their lungs.

BBC News reported that doctors are worried the number of cases could go up. More people might have drunk the harmful alcohol without knowing it was dangerous.

Expatriates Among Victims

The recent tragedy has deeply affected Kuwait’s large expatriate community. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait, representing the largest foreign workforce in the country, reported the hospitalisation of approximately 40 Indian citizens due to alcohol-related poisoning. In a statement on X, the embassy said, “Some people have died, others are in serious condition, and some are being treated in the hospital.”

Al Jazeera reported that most of the victims were Asian workers, including people from India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, who form a big part of Kuwait’s labour force. A Nepali man arrested in the case told police that the group mixed methanol with water and flavouring to make the drink look safe. They then sold the drink in small plastic bottles to evade detection.

Legal and Cultural Background

Kuwait has banned alcohol since 1983. Islamic law prohibits the import and sale of alcohol. But even with the strict ban, some people still sell alcohol in secret. Locals informed FazTimes about the existence of hidden bars, home delivery services, and illegal brewing spots in Kuwait, despite their usual concealment. What makes this case special is how much alcohol was made and how many people were harmed.

Reuters noted that this tragedy is not unique to the region. Other Gulf countries that also ban alcohol have had similar issues with underground alcohol sales, where dangerous drinks are made and sold to meet demand.

Health Dangers of Methanol Poisoning

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has long warned about the dangers of consuming methanol. The group says thousands of people in Asia get methanol poisoning each year, and between 20% and 40% of them die if they don’t get help quickly.

Symptoms include stomach pain, throwing up, blurry vision, and difficulty breathing. These signs are often mistaken for something else until it’s too late. Once methanol is processed in the body, it turns into formic acid, which can cause long-term damage to the eyes and kidneys.

Global Reactions and Warnings

The event has caused worry not only in Kuwait but also among people from South Asian countries living abroad. The news of numerous hospitalisations has caused concern among the families of workers who migrated to Kuwait from their home countries.

The Hindu reports that Indian officials are collaborating closely with Kuwaiti authorities to monitor the situation and assist those affected by the alcohol poisoning. Nepal’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has also asked for more information about how many of its citizens were impacted.

Doctors and health experts are now telling Kuwait to do more to warn people about the dangers of drinking illegal alcohol. One expert said, “This event shows that just banning alcohol isn’t enough. When people turn to secret sources, they put themselves in danger.”

Crackdown on Illegal Factories

Police, according to the Ministry of Interior, discovered numerous illegal factories producing alcohol. These places had lots of raw methanol, tools for making alcohol, and large containers for storing it. Security cameras showed that the group had a full system for selling the alcohol. They used cars that looked like food delivery trucks to move bottles around Kuwait City and other places.

Officials said 67 people are now being charged with making and selling alcohol illegally and putting others in danger. The ministry said it will keep cracking down and possibly arrest more people as it digs deeper into the case.

A Reminder of Past Incidents

This is not the first time Kuwait has had problems with illegal alcohol. Several poisoning cases occurred in 2012, albeit with fewer casualties. Similar events happened in other parts of the region, too. In countries such as India, Iran, and Pakistan, the consumption of illegal alcohol has resulted in fatalities.

For example, in Iran, at least 300 people died in 2020 after drinking methanol because of false news saying that alcohol could help prevent the coronavirus. The situation in Kuwait is similar, showing the same risks from false information, desperation, and a lack of safe drinks.

Looking Ahead

For many people, this recent tragedy is a clear sign that there needs to be more oversight and better efforts to educate the public. While Kuwait is not expected to change its alcohol ban, the increase in hidden production networks shows that there is a bigger need for early prevention.

As BBC News reported, experts believe that unless there is more awareness and more people taking responsibility in their communities, similar tragedies might happen again in the future. As the country moves forward with its investigation, the arrest of 67 people is just the start of what could be a wider push to stop this hidden industry that grows when there are no rules or controls.

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