Kuwait Times, Tuesday, Oct 13, 2020 | Safar 26, 1442
MoCI clamps down on smuggling of subsidized goods
Kuwait: The ministry of commerce and industry has affirmed that
distribution of subsidized monthly food rations is controlled by an accurate
electronic system as accountants from 51 cooperative store outlets were referred
to the public prosecution after discrepancies were discovered in the quantities
of subsidized items during inventory.
The ministry’s statement also came after Salmi border customs officers foiled an
attempt to smuggle out large quantities of subsidized powdered milk, rice and
oil with an estimated value of tens of thousands of dinars in trucks heading to
several Arab countries, according to a MoCI source.
Kuwait Supply Co distributes rations to cooperative societies, which in turn
deliver the products to beneficiaries at their respective branches, the ministry
said in a press release late Sunday. In case there is any shortage in the
commodities, the officials of the concerned cooperatives face legal action
without any financial burden to state funds.
The ministry’s inspectors verify the accuracy of cooperatives’ inventories
regularly and referred 51 co-op branches to the public prosecution recently, the
statement said. There are clear-cut ministerial decrees that ban the sale of
subsidized ration commodities to illegible persons or entities, whether inside
or outside the country, it reminded. The ministry added that it is working with
the ministry of social affairs to Kuwaitize administrative positions at all
cooperative societies in line with state policy.
The ministry source told Al-Rai Arabic daily said strict commerce ministry
measures prevent smuggling, yet there will still be such acts – at less than one
percent. He said subsidized items are only dispensed according to the
recipient’s civil ID, while the ministry carries out regular inventories, and if
there is any shortage, the cooperative’s accountant will be referred to
prosecution.
The source said some of those eligible to receive subsidized items sell or give
them away to expats, warning that this is not allowed. The source said that
there is coordination with the ministry of social affairs to Kuwaitize
administrative jobs at branches of subsidized supplies to stop employing
non-Kuwaitis there to control distribution and prevent waste, claiming that
Kuwaitis are “more honest in administrative posts”. The source said the presence
of any discrepancy in stocks is tantamount to squandering of public funds.