Kuwait Releases American Prisoners Jailed for Years on Drug Charges in Gesture of Goodwill

This image provided by Jonathan Franks shows Franks with six American prisoners who had been detained in Kuwait as they pose for a photo at Kuwait International Airport, March 12, 2025, before flying home to the U.S.

Kuwait has released a group of American prisoners, including veterans and military contractors, who had been jailed for years on drug-related charges. This release, seen as a gesture of goodwill between the two nations, follows a visit to the region by Adam Boehler, the U.S. administration's top hostage envoy. The move is part of the U.S. government's continued efforts to bring American citizens home from foreign jails.

At least six U.S. nationals were freed, with six of them accompanied on a flight from Kuwait to New York by Jonathan Franks, a private consultant specializing in cases involving American hostages and detainees. Franks, who worked to secure the release of these individuals, expressed gratitude toward the Kuwaiti government. He stated that his clients maintained their innocence and expected additional releases to follow. The names of the released prisoners have not been made public.

Kuwait has not officially acknowledged the release, and its state-run news agency, KUNA, did not report on the matter. The timing of the release coincides with the holy Muslim month of Ramadan and the upcoming Eid al-Fitr holiday, which often sees prisoner releases in Muslim-majority countries.

Kuwait, a small but oil-rich country bordering Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, has long been a major non-NATO ally of the United States. The two nations have a close military partnership, particularly following the 1991 Gulf War when U.S. forces helped expel Iraqi troops from Kuwait. Approximately 13,500 American troops are currently stationed in the country.

However, Kuwait has detained many American military contractors on drug-related charges, some of whom have been imprisoned for years. Families of these detainees have alleged abuse and harsh conditions while imprisoned, citing Kuwait's strict laws regarding drugs and alcohol. There have also been accusations of fabricated charges and evidence against American detainees, though these claims have not been acknowledged by the Kuwaiti government.

The U.S. State Department has long warned travelers that drug charges in Kuwait can result in lengthy prison sentences or even the death penalty. While defense cooperation agreements between the U.S. and Kuwait likely ensure American troops are subject only to U.S. laws, these provisions may not apply to contractors.

Since President Trump's administration, the U.S. has secured the release of several American detainees from foreign countries. Notably, American schoolteacher Marc Fogel was released in a prisoner swap with Russia, and Belarus also released an imprisoned U.S. citizen.

The Americans released in this case had not been officially designated as "wrongfully detained" by the U.S. government, a status that triggers specific diplomatic interventions by the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs. However, advocates for detainees abroad hope the Trump administration will take a more flexible approach to secure the release of Americans who do not fall into this category.

Jonathan Franks criticized past U.S. policies, stating that Americans held abroad for extended periods, like those recently released, had been neglected until President Trump took office. He emphasized that these releases demonstrate the potential for successful diplomatic efforts when the U.S. prioritizes bringing its citizens home.

In a related diplomatic move, President Trump recently announced that Amer Ghalib, the mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan, would become the new U.S. ambassador to Kuwait.