10 years for Syrian gang in huge money laundering case

A Kuwaiti court has handed down a 10-year prison sentence to a gang of nine Syrian nationals convicted in one of the country's largest money laundering cases. The State Security and Terrorism Crimes Court also imposed a significant fine of KD6,884,000 on the individuals and two general trading and perfume/incense companies involved.

The court ordered the permanent closure of the two companies and barred them from any commercial activities. Two other defendants were acquitted in the case. The verdict, delivered by Judge Nasser Al-Badr and his colleagues, found the defendants guilty of money laundering and harming Kuwait's national interests.

Public prosecution detailed how the organized criminal group laundered more than KD2.294 million. This sum was derived from crimes including harming national interests, forging bank documents, fraud, and operating an unlicensed money exchange business. Investigations revealed the gang used social media advertisements for food products to lure victims, then sent electronic payment links for Kuwaiti stores with inflated prices.

These illicit funds were used to purchase various goods, which unsuspecting couriers then resold for cash. The money was deposited into personal and company accounts before being transferred internationally to China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Turkey, Thailand, and the UAE. There, it was used to buy heavy equipment that was subsequently sent to Syria and sold for cash, effectively concealing the money's illegal origins. The court determined that the defendants operated an illegal financial system outside official oversight, damaging Kuwait's financial standing and credit rating.