US government report published on Tuesday, June 24, 2024, accuses the Houthi rebels, designated as a terrorist group by the US, of funding their attacks in the Red Sea through an "international drug trafficking operation." The report, released by Share America, a US government website, claims this operation "destabilizes the country and spreads insecurity throughout the Middle East."

The report, seen by Barran Press, states that the Iran-backed Houthis have gained international notoriety for attacking civilian shipping and disrupting global trade over the past year. However, it highlights that "what is less known is that the Houthis are funding their violence through lucrative drug smuggling and distribution operations."

The report cites the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which warns that the illicit drug trade is a significant source of income for the Houthis and their allies. The OECD claims that Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen have become open markets for drugs, with "thousands of kilograms of illicit drugs such as Captagon (a form of methamphetamine), hashish, and heroin" flooding the region.

The report further claims that the Houthis utilize drug profits to purchase weapons, pay fighters, and exploit addicted youth as expendable foot soldiers in their attacks against both Yemenis and international shipping.

The report quotes the Geneva-based Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, a non-governmental organization, as saying that the Houthi militia oversees a lucrative heroin trade and continues to control the hashish trade as a source of funding and recruitment tool.

The report directly links the drug trade to Houthi violence, stating that the group uses drugs to recruit and control young people and children, and to increase loyalty and dependence. The report accuses the group of giving their fighters Captagon before battles to increase their energy and aggression.

The report highlights that this practice not only fuels the conflict but also contributes to Yemen's social collapse, with devastating consequences for the youth and the country's future.

The report acknowledges ongoing international efforts to combat this drug trafficking operation, stating that these efforts stem from a "recognition of the serious threat posed by Houthi drug smuggling."

The report reveals that over the past few years, naval forces patrolling the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean have seized over $1 billion worth of illicit drugs destined for Yemen and the region.

The report highlights the Combined Maritime Forces, a 44-nation naval partnership dedicated to protecting maritime routes and stopping smugglers, terrorists, and other criminals.

The report states that the US has imposed sanctions on individuals and key companies involved in this drug trade and continues to work with groups and communities to combat the drug scourge.

The report concludes by noting that Wednesday, June 26, 2024, marks the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, a United Nations-designated day to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

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