Interior Minister: Drug factory in Al-Mahra linked to Iran; Houthis employ fragmented smuggling tactics.

Iranian-Linked Drug Manufacturing Operation Discovered in Al-Mahra

In a recent interview with Al-Hadath TV, Interior Minister Major General Ibrahim Haidan revealed that a drug manufacturing facility uncovered in Al-Mahra Province has ties to the Iranian regime. This operation aims to transform Yemen into a hub for exporting drugs to neighboring countries.

Detailed Surveillance Leads to Discovery

Minister Haidan explained that authorities conducted a week-long surveillance operation, allowing security forces to monitor the movement of certain equipment. This strategic approach enabled them to track the network involved in the drug trade. The authorities seized the shipment in the city of Shahn, revealing significant security lapses that facilitated the identification of collaborators.

Arrests of Foreign Experts

The minister disclosed that Lebanese and Syrian experts were apprehended in Aden while en route to Houthi-controlled areas to establish a new manufacturing site. He emphasized that the Houthi group employs a “fragmented smuggling” method to evade detection of their equipment. Investigations have confirmed a direct connection between these activities and the Iranian regime.

Importance of Security Coordination

Haidan stressed that effective security coordination is essential for safeguarding Yemen and the broader region from this cross-border threat. He underscored the need for collaborative efforts to combat the growing drug trade and its implications for regional stability.

This alarming situation highlights the ongoing challenges Yemen faces in addressing drug trafficking and the influence of external actors in the region.

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