Aden – Joint Yemeni security forces intercepted a smuggling vessel carrying a large quantity of narcotics off the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait, in a major blow to regional trafficking networks operating along the Red Sea corridor.

According to a statement by the Southern Giants Brigades, the boat was seized near the coastal area of Al-Mudaraba and Ras Al-Ara in Lahj governorate. The operation led to the confiscation of approximately half a ton of hashish, concealed aboard the vessel. Armed clashes erupted during the interception, but security personnel successfully subdued the smugglers and secured the shipment.

The suspects were transferred to judicial authorities for further investigation. Officials described the bust as part of an intensified campaign to combat drug smuggling across Yemen’s maritime borders, which have seen a surge in illicit activity in recent months.

Security analysts warn that the Bab al-Mandab strait—one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints—is increasingly exploited by transnational criminal networks. Yemeni forces have stepped up naval patrols and intelligence coordination to counter the threat, amid concerns over regional destabilization and the financing of armed groups through narcotics trade.

Brigadier Jalal Al-Ruba’i, commander of Aden’s Security Belt Forces, emphasized that drugs pose “a threat no less deadly than war,” underscoring the urgency of continued vigilance and international cooperation.