Government: Houthis have turned areas under their control into a drug trafficking hub.

Arab Sea Newspaper - Special

Arabian Sea - Yemen - Follow-ups: The internationally recognized Yemeni government said that the Houthi group has turned areas under its control into major hubs for drug and Captagon smuggling networks, as part of organized criminal activities managed by Iran and its arms in the region. The Yemeni News Agency (Saba) quoted Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Muammar Al-Eryani as saying that the thwarting by the counter-terrorism unit, led by Major General Shallal Ali Shayea, of one of the largest drug smuggling attempts, by seizing a huge shipment of cocaine weighing 599 kilograms on its way to the Houthis, represents a qualitative blow that confirms the vigilance and professionalism of the security services. Al-Eryani explained that this operation reveals the extent of the overlap between the Houthis and their regional allies in employing the drug trade to finance their sectarian project that transcends borders, stressing that the group has not only committed crimes against Yemenis, but has become an integral part of international organized crime networks. The minister warned that the international community's leniency towards these activities will not only threaten Yemen and the region, but will also pose a global security threat, calling for a firm international stance that cuts off the Houthis' sources of funding and dries up their criminal activities.