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Kuwait committed to combat against illicit trafficking of firearms - Official

Kuwait delegation during the meeting
Kuwait delegation during the meeting
VIENNA, Oct 17 (KUNA) -- Assistant Undersecretary of Kuwait's Ministry of Interior for Criminal Security Affairs Maj.-Gen. Khaled Al-Duyayn said Wednesday that his country continues to contribute to the international campaign against organized crimes, including the illicit trafficking and misuse of firearms.
Kuwait is working with the State Parties to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime to ensure effective implementation of the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition (Firearms Protocol), he said.
Maj.-Gen. Al-Duyayn made the comments in a speech to the ninth conference of the state parties to the Convention.
The State of Kuwait has successful experiences in addressing the phenomenon of illicit possession of firearms and munitions particularly in the wake of the Gulf War of 1991 that led to the liberation of Kuwait from the Iraqi invasion.
During that time many people took hold illicitly of unexploded ordnance, including weapons, explosives, and munitions, he pointed out.
To tackle this phenomenon, Kuwait adopted a legislation to ban illicit possession of firearms and organize trading therein.
The law specifies the cases and conditions where importation, manufacturing, possession and use of, and trading in, firearms are legal; it also specifies the penalties for violators, Maj.-Gen. Al-Duyayn explained.
After joining the Firearms Protocol and other international security treaties, the State of Kuwait adopted a range of measures to maximize the role of security services in combating such transnational organized crimes, he said.
In 2015, Kuwait launched a center to combat these crimes and track down the culprits.
The legislative authority has also passed a law to toughen the punishment for illicit trafficking and misuse of firearms, particularly in cases related to terrorist activity, he added. (end) ahh.gb