US soldiers probed for illegally 'selling pork on the black market' in Kuwait

The troops set up an illegal network to trade pork obtained on the base to residents living in the Gulf state, where pork is prohibited, Task & Purpose, which monitors US military news, reported.

"I can confirm Special Agents from the US Army Criminal Investigation Command are investigating allegations of abuse and illegal resale of pork products at [Army and Air Force Exchange Service] in Kuwait," Chris Grey, spokesman for CID, told Task & Purpose. 

"Due to the ongoing investigation, no further information will be released at this time to protect the integrity of the investigative process."

Pork that costs an estimated $30 inside the base is sold outside for around $200, the report said, citing documents that suggested those found guilty of involvement in the pork smuggling ring face life imprisonment.

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Under Kuwaiti law, where pork is strictly prohibited, perpetrators also face a three-year sentence and a fine of more than $165,000.

More than 13,000 American soldiers are station in numerous bases across Kuwait. According to a previous New York Times report, 28 private contractors have been imprisoned for various charges involving drug abuse in Kuwait in the past five years.

However, Hussain Abdul-Hussain, the Washington bureau chief for local Al Rai newspaper said: "To my knowledge, there are no known precedents of US troops being summoned before Kuwaiti courts."

"If Kuwait has complaints about certain soldiers, they take it up with US command in Kuwait," he added. 

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