Yemen: Lahj Security Foils Smuggling of Sensitive Naval Equipment to Houthis

Arab Sea Newspaper - Follow-ups

Arabian Sea - Yemen - Follow-ups: Security services in Lahj Governorate thwarted an attempt to smuggle advanced marine equipment and cranes specialized for unloading ship containers, which were on their way to areas under the control of the Houthi militia. A security source explained that the operation came after suspicion of a truck while passing through Al-Husseini checkpoint north of Al-Houta city, where the cranes were found inside, carefully hidden under heavy covers. It was later revealed that they were heading towards Sana'a, and from there to the port of Hodeidah. In parallel, the Yemeni authorities revealed new details about the arms smuggling cell that was seized last month on board the ship "Al-Sharwa," loaded with 750 tons of strategic weapons and chemicals. Investigations confirmed that seven defendants confessed to the smuggling routes, sources of weapons supply, and the Houthi parties involved inside and outside Yemen, in addition to the role of the Lebanese "Hezbollah" in training members of the cell and transporting them through Syria and other countries. The investigations also showed that the militia relies on sophisticated camouflage methods, including hiding shipments inside workshop equipment and electric generators, and using circuitous sea routes through the coasts of Somalia and Eritrea to avoid monitored international routes. These operations are managed by a smuggling network led by prominent leaders in Hodeidah, most notably Hussein Hamed Hamza Al-Attas, Muhammad Derhem Al-Muayyad, and Yahya Muhammad Al-Iraqi, along with a number of assistants.