Barran Press
The Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by the international community, has established a new land customs checkpoint to impose tariffs and taxes on goods coming from the Marib-Bayda road, which was reopened last week after three years of closure, local sources in Bayda governorate (central Yemen) reported on Thursday, June 13th, 2024.
The sources told "Barran Press" that "before reopening the road last week, the Houthis had requested a six-day period from members of the community initiative for road opening to prepare and rehabilitate the road. During this period, they set up a customs checkpoint specifically for imposing fees on goods."
The sources mentioned that the group had relocated the checkpoint, previously known as "Afar Checkpoint," to the "Suwaydiyah" camp and reinstated the checkpoint staff who were dismissed after the closure of the Bayda-Marib road during their military attacks towards southern Marib districts in 2021.
The sources pointed out that the newly established checkpoint, after being equipped with guards and military vehicles, began collecting taxes and imposing fees on goods coming from Marib and other governorates under the control of the internationally recognized Yemeni government via the newly opened road.
The Afar customs checkpoint was established by the Houthi group in 2017 to impose fees and taxes on goods imported from governorates under government control.
Last Saturday, June 8th, local authorities in Marib governorate (northeastern Yemen) announced the reopening of the Marib-Bayda-Sana'a road after nearly three years of closure due to clashes between Yemeni army forces and Houthi militants in southern Marib districts (northeastern Yemen).