13 Asians held in Farwaniya gambling and tobacco raid

If you rent a flat in one of Farwaniya’s residential complexes, you’ve probably noticed the extra police patrols lately. This case shows why.

Kuwait’s Criminal Security Sector, through the General Department for Criminal Investigations, has arrested 13 Asian nationals over an illegal gambling operation known as the ‘Lottery’ system. The network was running out of two rented flats in a residential complex in Farwaniya.

This comes as police across the governorate have stepped up checks in recent weeks. As we reported in our coverage of the Farwaniya illegal businesses crackdown on 6 October, officers shut several unlicensed operations in the same area.

What actually happened in Farwaniya?

According to the Ministry of Interior, the General Department for Criminal Investigations had been watching a residential complex in Farwaniya for some time. Investigators found that a group of people had rented two flats there and were using them to run gambling activities under the so-called ‘Lottery’ system.

Security officers increased surveillance on the flats. Once they had enough evidence, they moved in, arrested those involved, and shut the operation down completely.

Officers seized gambling equipment and paperwork from the flats, along with sums of money believed to have come from the illegal betting. They also found a quantity of tanbak – a type of tobacco banned in Kuwait – already packaged and ready for sale.

Who were the people arrested?

The Ministry of Interior said all 13 people arrested were Asian nationals. Their specific nationalities have not been given, and Times Kuwait, which first reported the story, did not name any of the suspects. That’s standard practice here, since the case hasn’t gone to court yet.

All suspects, along with the seized cash, equipment and tobacco, have been handed over to the relevant authorities so the legal process can continue. No charges or court dates have been announced so far.

Why this keeps happening in residential areas

Gambling is illegal in Kuwait under local law, whatever form it takes – cards, betting apps, or informal ‘Lottery’ style systems like the one found in Farwaniya. Rented flats in busy residential complexes are an easy place for these networks to operate quietly, away from shopfronts or public view.

This isn’t an isolated case. Our coverage of a five-star hotel raid on 16 October and the related arrests of men in women’s dancewear on 19 October both point to the same pattern: police quietly building cases before moving in on a single night. The recent security sweep in Jahra followed a similar approach.

What this means if you live in Farwaniya

For residents of the complex involved, this likely means a visible police presence for a few days while the case is processed, and possibly some disruption if your building was one of those checked.

For landlords and tenants across Kuwait more broadly, it’s a reminder that the Ministry of Interior does act on tips about flats being used for things other than ordinary living. If you suspect a unit near you is being used for illegal activity, reporting it to the police is the safer route than ignoring it.

Expats in particular should know that being present at a location during a raid, even without direct involvement, can draw you into a long legal process. It’s worth being careful about who you share a flat with, and what goes on inside it.

You can find more on how these cases usually unfold in our latest local crime and security coverage, which tracks similar raids and arrests across Kuwait.

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