Aden (South24 Center)

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In a major counter-narcotics operation, security forces in South Yemen seized more than 1.08 million narcotic pills of the type Pregabalin (300 mg) hidden inside a transport truck in the district of Al-Mudaraba and Ras Al-Arah in Lahj Governorate.

According to an official statement by the Southern forces, a patrol from the Joint Security Campaign stopped a Dina-type truck in the coastal area of Al-Hajaf after raising suspicions. Upon inspection, security personnel found 144 cartons containing approximately 1.08 million pills intended for illegal distribution.

The statement said the operation comes within ongoing efforts to combat drug smuggling along coastal routes extending from Bab al-Mandab to western Lahj.

#BREAKING
Southern Forces announce seizure of over 1,080,000 "Pregabalin" narcotic pills in Al-Madariba district, Lahj#south24 pic.twitter.com/rvxzxLBbbE

— South24 | English (@South24E) October 21, 2025

Member of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) and Vice President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), Abdulrahman Al-Mahrami, commended the forces for their vigilance, describing the seizure as an important step in countering smuggling networks targeting southern governorates.

As part of broader southern security efforts, the Yemeni Coast Guard, operating under the Ministry of Interior in Aden, announced the interception of a ship in the northern Arabian Sea carrying narcotics.

According to an official statement from the Security Media Department in Aden, the Coast Guard, in coordination with a Pakistani Navy vessel named “Yarmouk”, operating under the Joint Task Force (150) led by the Royal Saudi Navy, tracked and intercepted the suspect ship.

The statement said 2,056 kilograms of amphetamine (shabu) were found on board. The crew—consisting of Iranian and Pakistani nationals—was detained for legal procedures and referred to the competent authorities. A female leader of the trafficking network was among those arrested.

In another operation, a Coast Guard patrol seized a marine vessel carrying about 4,000 “miri” narcotic pills of various types. The vessel was taken to Mokha Port for legal processing and later transferred to Fajra for detention according to standard procedures.

The Coast Guard Authority affirmed that its maritime patrols will continue to monitor and intercept illegal activities that threaten maritime security, emphasizing that southern coasts will remain a barrier against smuggling and organized crime.

A previous South24 Center report, published in September, highlighted an unprecedented surge in drug trafficking and manufacturing inside Yemen, with documented suspicions of Houthi involvement in managing production and distribution networks similar to those established in Syria and Lebanon.