Military officials in Hadhramaut announced on Thursday, July 18, 2024, the successful seizure of three drug trafficking gangs by forces under the 23rd Mechanized Brigade. The arrests occurred on the international highway in the Al-Abr district.

Brigadier General Abdullah Mu'azab, Commander of the 23rd Mechanized Brigade, stated that military checkpoints under the brigade's control intercepted the three gangs in separate operations over the past 24 hours. The gangs were attempting to smuggle large quantities of narcotics.

The Armed Forces Media Center quoted Brigadier General Mu'azab as saying that the first gang was found in possession of 11,940 capsules containing the narcotic substance "shabu." The second gang was carrying 2 kilograms of hashish.

Furthermore, the military forces apprehended a liquor distributor and manufacturer who was found with a 20-liter metal container of alcohol, according to Brigadier General Mu'azab.

He confirmed that investigations are underway with the detained gangs, and they will be transferred, along with the confiscated materials, to relevant authorities for legal action.

The Commander of the 23rd Mechanized Brigade emphasized the brigade's continued commitment to fulfilling its national duty of securing the movement of travelers on the international highway and protecting Yemeni society as a whole from the dangers of narcotics and deadly toxins.

Earlier this month, security forces in Marib Governorate (northeastern Yemen) announced the seizure of 190 kilograms of hashish at a security checkpoint on the outskirts of the governorate while attempting to smuggle it into areas controlled by the Houthi group.