Azernews.Az

KUWAITI – Kuwaiti interior ministry officers have arrested a six-member Russian gang believed to consist of ethnic Armenians who were stealing jewelry and valuables from grand villas and jewelry shops in the country, local news agency Al-Seyassah reported.

The gang, which includes two women, has reportedly stolen gold worth over 1 million Kuwaiti Dinars ($3.7 million) over the last four years. The outlaws’ actions included visiting Kuwait on visit visas during summers, breaking into the villas of the rich, and escaping out of the country with the loot. The ring leader, however, has not been arrested yet.

A security source said officials noticed that thefts at villas in Capital and Hawalli governorates had increased and that the thieves were using advanced ways to open safes. He said money and gold worth KD 200,000 ($740,000) had been stolen over the last two months. Security officers then intensified investigations and managed to arrest a Russian national of Armenian origin who was involved in a case in 2007. During interrogations, he admitted that he was part of a gang that was involved in stealing jewelry and revealed that he comes to Kuwait along with the others every year on a commercial visit visa sponsored by a hotel.

He also confessed that his wife was on her way to the airport with the stolen gold and forged passports. Security officers arrested the woman and during questioning, the couple gave details of four other members of their gang, including a woman.