Aden -- A recent European investigation has revealed that Russian ships continue to smuggle drug pills from Crimean peninsula to Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, fueling concerns over a transnational trafficking network that finances armed conflicts in the region.

According to a joint report by Lloyd’s List and Bellingcat, Russian-flagged cargo vessels have been observed transporting grain shipments from Sevastopol, Crimea, to the Houthi-controlled port of Saleef in northern Yemen. While some of these shipments were UN-approved as humanitarian aid, the report raises serious suspicions that the same vessels are being used to smuggle Captagon pills — a powerful amphetamine widely trafficked in the Middle East — to support Houthi military operations.

In a related development, Yemeni authorities announced in June 2025 the seizure of over 1.5 million Captagon pills hidden inside a refrigerated truck originating from Houthi territory, reinforcing accusations that the group relies on drug trafficking as a major source of funding.

The European report warns that continued smuggling activities pose a threat to regional security and undermine humanitarian efforts, urging stricter oversight of maritime traffic from conflict zones, particularly those linked to Crimea and the Red Sea.