Kuwait City: The Kuwaiti authorities, under the supervision of First Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, have busted a criminal network behind the illegal production and distribution of illicit alcohol that claimed the lives of several expatriates, including Indians. Arab Times reported that the Kuwait police arrested 67 individuals, including Indian, Bangladeshi and Nepali nationals, on Saturday.

Bhuban Lal Tamang, a Nepalese national, was arrested in Salmiya during a joint operation conducted by the General Departments of Investigation, Drug Control, Forensic Evidence, and the Ministry of Health. The officials seized methanol, a toxic substance used in the production of the illicit liquor, from him.

During security operations across Kuwait, the officials found six factories involved in the illegal production and sale of illicit liquor. Immediate action was also taken to close four additional factories operating within residential and industrial areas.

The Ministry of Health in Kuwait confirmed that 63 cases of alcohol poisoning, resulting from beverages contaminated with methanol, have been reported in the country since August 9. Sachin (31), a native of Kannur, was among the 13 expatriates who died after consuming the toxic alcohol. According to the ministry’s official statement, 51 people who consumed the liquor required urgent dialysis, 21 lost their vision, and 31 were placed on artificial respiratory support. Several remain in critical condition.

Arab Times further reported that a special task force traced the affected individuals to purchases of locally manufactured alcohol in the Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh area.