Aden – Yemeni security forces have dismantled a clandestine network allegedly affiliated with the Houthi militia that was attempting to establish a narcotics manufacturing facility in the eastern province of Al-Mahra, according to local authorities.

The operation, carried out by counter-narcotics units in coordination with provincial intelligence services, led to the arrest of several suspects and the seizure of equipment and chemical precursors believed to be intended for the production of synthetic drugs, including methamphetamine and captagon.

Security officials stated that the network had been operating under the guise of a commercial warehouse near the coastal district of Sayhut. Surveillance and intelligence gathering over several weeks revealed suspicious shipments arriving from Houthi-controlled territories in northern Yemen, including Saada and Dhamar.

“The evidence points to a coordinated effort by Houthi-linked operatives to expand drug production into liberated areas,” said a senior security source in Al-Mahra. “This is part of a broader strategy to destabilize the region and finance their military operations through narcotics trafficking.”

Authorities believe the planned facility was intended to serve as a regional hub for drug distribution, targeting markets in neighboring Gulf countries. The seizure included industrial-grade mixers, pill presses, and large quantities of precursor chemicals sourced from abroad.

This incident adds to growing concerns over the Houthis’ involvement in transnational drug trafficking networks. Recent reports from international watchdogs and Yemeni government agencies have accused the group of using drug revenues to fund armed operations and recruit fighters, particularly youth vulnerable to addiction and exploitation.

Al-Mahra Governor Mohammed Ali Yasser praised the swift action of local forces and called for increased border security and international cooperation to combat narcotics smuggling. “We will not allow our province to become a corridor for criminal networks,” he said.

Investigations are ongoing, and authorities have pledged to pursue all individuals and entities linked to the operation.