Yemen: Security officers in Immigration and Passports issue an important statement

Arab Sea Newspaper - Special

**Arab Sea - Special:** Individuals and officers of the security guards in the Immigration and Passports Authority and the Khor Maksar Passports Branch issued a statement denying the validity of what has been circulated in some media outlets and social media regarding accusations and allegations leveled against them recently, stressing that they have been performing their security duties to the fullest extent inside and outside the authority for years. The statement, of which the Arab Sea newspaper received a copy, stated that the security guards were able during the past period to seize the largest cell for forging identity cards, university degrees, and identity documents, which later led to the discovery of other cells in Lahj Governorate, which were referred to Aden Security, which began arresting those involved. The statement indicated that the security guards had a good relationship with the citizens, but they were surprised by practices of extortion and corruption that affected the clients, and when they submitted their reports to the competent authorities, the matter turned - according to their description - into a smear campaign targeting them with false reports, despite their official honoring by Aden Security and the submission of a memorandum to the Minister of Interior in appreciation of their efforts only one month ago. The statement clarified that the work stoppage in the authority was not due to the guards, as was promoted, but rather as a result of a decision issued by the administration of the Khor Maksar Passports Branch, stressing that there are no complaints from citizens against the security personnel, but rather that most of the complaints relate to internal corruption practices, including the collection of sums of money in dollars by those close to senior officials in the passports department, which the security teams documented and submitted to the official authorities. The statement mentioned that the administration of the Passports Branch did not adhere to the decision of the Ministry of Interior regarding the adoption of electronic cards, as the decision is implemented selectively, which caused great suffering to citizens coming from remote areas, while passports are issued to others without adhering to the ministry's decisions, which exacerbated the chaos at the authority's gate and exhausted the clients. At the conclusion of their statement, the security guards affirmed that they are soldiers of the state and perform their duties away from any excesses, calling on the Vice-President of the Presidential Leadership Council, Abu Zaraa Al-Muharrami, the Vice-President of the Presidential Council, Major General Aidaroos Al-Zubaidi, the Minister of Interior, the Governor of Aden, the Director of Security, and the Head of the Counter-Terrorism Service to form a committee to conduct a field visit and investigate the matter transparently, affirming their readiness to provide all the evidence and documents in their possession. Issued by the Fourth Battalion (Hazm 4) - Protection Commander at the Immigration and Passports Authority site, Khor Maksar.