Naval forces operating under a joint security campaign have intercepted a boat carrying nearly a quarter of a tonne of narcotics off the coast of Bab al-Mandab, arresting four smugglers in one of the most significant drug seizures reported in the area in recent months.

The interception took place in the Al-Subaiha districts of Lahj Governorate, where naval units seized a consignment consisting of 85 parcels of crystal methamphetamine and 119 bags of hashish.

Security sources stated that the drugs were being transported via maritime routes and were intended for smuggling operations that posed a serious threat to public safety and social stability.

According to officials involved in the operation, the seizure was carried out in the presence of senior local and security representatives, including the Director General of Al-Mudharabah and Ras Al-Arah Directorate, Murad Saif Jubah, the Director of the Governorate’s Anti-Narcotics Department, Lieutenant Colonel Mukhtar Al-Duqm, and the Director of Legal Affairs of the Second Giants Division, Colonel Muhammad Abdul Qadir, along with several other security leaders.

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The operation forms part of an ongoing joint security campaign led by Brigadier General Hamdi Shukri Al-Subaihi, which focuses on countering drug trafficking, smuggling and organised crime along Yemen’s southern coastline.

Officials involved in the campaign said the effort aims to strengthen security, stabilise coastal areas and protect Bab al-Mandab, one of the region’s most strategically important maritime passages.

The Yemeni Coastguard, operating under the Internationally Recognised Government (IRG), later confirmed the seizure, stating that four smugglers had been detained and approximately a quarter of a tonne of amphetamines and hashish confiscated during the operation. The confirmation was made in a statement issued on 5 January 2026.

Recent drug and arms seizures in the Bab al-Mandab area have largely been attributed to coastal units of the National Resistance Forces (NRF) led by Major General Tarik Saleh. However, observers stated that in this case the seizure was officially credited to the Yemeni Coastguard.

The interception has been welcomed by international partners, including the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, which are leading donor efforts to revitalise the Yemeni Coastguard.

References: alayyam, khabaragency