Iranian Spy Cell Busted

(Kuwait City, Kuwait) Iranian intelligence-gathering took a hit.

Security agencies in Kuwait have busted a spy cell working for Iran's Revolutionary Guards, feeding information on Kuwaiti and US targets, a newspaper reported on Saturday.

Citing high-ranking security sources, Al-Qabas daily said Kuwait arrested at least seven men, some of whom served in the interior and defence ministries, while others include bidoon, or stateless Arabs, and other Arabs.

Security agencies are still hunting for six to seven other men suspected of being members of the cell, which was broken up in a coordinated effort between the secret service and army intelligence, the paper said.

Cell members have taken pictures of Kuwaiti military and other vital targets in addition to US military sites, Al-Qabas said.

Security forces stormed the home of one of the cell leaders in Sulaibiya, 25 km (16 miles) west of Kuwait City two days ago and found maps for vital sites, highly sophisticated communications devices and cash exceeding 250,000 dollars.

The daily quoted the security sources as saying members of the cell confessed that they were assigned to recruit new members whose ideas are similar to the Revolutionary Guards.

Members of the cell have visited Iran frequently under the disguise of tourism, medical treatment or visiting religious places, the daily said.

It's easy speculation that Iran has spy cells needing exposure in other locations. I would suggest that any place with a congregation of Shi'ite Muslims will likely have Iranian intelligence operatives.