Barran Press
Al-Mahra, Yemen – On Wednesday, November 27, 2024, security sources in Al-Mahra province reported the seizure of 200 kilograms of hashish at the Shehen border crossing with Oman.
According to Yemen's official news agency Saba, the seized narcotics were concealed within the roots of large trees, transported on a specially modified truck that had been disguised by smuggling gangs.
The source indicated that the confiscated hashish, along with the suspects and the Pakistani driver, has been transferred to customs authorities for further legal proceedings and referral to the public prosecutor's office.
The Director of Security and Police in Al-Mahra, Brigadier General Mufti Samouda, commended the customs office's efforts in combating drug smuggling, highlighting its impact on destroying communities. He urged the public to cooperate with security forces in the fight against this organized crime.
The Shehen crossing has been identified as one of the routes used for smuggling prohibited items, including weapons for the Houthis, according to international expert reports. A United Nations Security Council report confirmed the existence of land routes utilized by arms traffickers from the eastern borders, in addition to maritime routes used by smuggling networks from Iran heading to Yemen.
Despite the challenges, the crossing has seen multiple successful seizures, the latest of which occurred in October when customs officials, in collaboration with security agencies, discovered 3,975 spare parts for Kalashnikov rifles hidden in a commercial shipment arriving in the country.
In the same month, customs authorities also intercepted 40 dual-use servo motors capable of automated movement, which are considered strategic goods that could be misused for security-related purposes.