Yemen, GCC facing drugs war, official

By Nasser Arrabyee 04/08/2009

Yemen and Gulf Council Countries (GCC) are facing a hidden drugs war aimed at undermining their security and stability, said a Yemeni official Tuesday.

"Yemen and GCC are facing now a hidden war by the international mafia of drugs which aims to undermine the security and stability in these countries," said Colonel Mutahar Al Shuaibi, director of the Sana'a Central Prison.


There are more than 210 men in the prison now, who were arrested while trading drugs inside Yemen and trafficking to the neighbouring countries, he said.


The official made it clear that most of the accused are Syrian nationals, and the others are Yemenis, Saudis, Kuwaitis, Pakistanis, and Iranians.


The reasons behind the increasing activity of drug dealers in Yemen and its borders with the GCC are the lack of control over the 2500 km long coast, lack of resources, training, and equipments with the Yemen security agencies, the official added.

Director of the country's largest prison called for establishing a centre for treating and rehabilitating the addicts in the framework of combating drugs and addiction in Yemen.

Earlier this year, the officials at the Ministry of Interior said that more than 27 tons of Hashish and about 14 million capsules of various drugs were confiscated by the security agencies during 2008.

While during 2007, about five tons of Hashish and five million capsules were confiscated, according to official statistics.