Yemeni Coast Guard Foils Drug Smuggling Attempt Off Bab al-Mandab

Aden – Yemen’s Coast Guard announced Monday that it had thwarted a major drug smuggling operation off the Bab al-Mandab Strait in the country’s southwest, seizing a vessel carrying approximately a quarter ton of narcotics.
According to the Security Media Center, the joint security campaign intercepted a boat arriving from Djibouti with four smugglers on board.
Authorities reported that the vessel was loaded with 85 packages of methamphetamine (known locally as “shabu”) and 119 bags of hashish, totaling nearly 250 kilograms of illicit substances.
Initial investigations suggest the incident is linked to ongoing trafficking and distribution activities along Yemen’s coastal waters. 
The Coast Guard confirmed that the suspects were taken into custody, the contraband secured, and legal procedures initiated, with the case referred to the competent authorities.
Officials emphasized that the operation reflects intensified efforts to combat narcotics smuggling through Yemen’s strategic maritime routes, particularly the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital corridor for international shipping.