Aden — The British maritime intelligence platform Lloyd’s List has uncovered a serious security loophole undermining international sanctions imposed on Yemen. 

According to its latest investigation, unidentified vessels have engaged in sophisticated identity fraud operations to smuggle oil shipments into areas controlled by the Houthi militia.

The report revealed that smuggling networks resorted to a deceptive tactic by using the identification data of a vessel named Dongfengshen to disguise their movements. 

This allowed them to deliver oil cargoes to the Houthi-controlled Ras Issa port on Yemen’s Red Sea coast, bypassing international monitoring systems.

The findings highlight the growing challenge of enforcing maritime sanctions in conflict zones where advanced smuggling networks exploit digital and logistical vulnerabilities.