**Warning of the Risks of Houthis Exploiting Yemen Airways to Smuggle Leaders, Funds, and Weapons**
**Smuggling prominent political leaders, funds, and military equipment to and from Yemen threatens the security and stability of Yemen and the region**
The Platform for Tracking Organized Crime and Money Laundering in Yemen (P.T.O.C) has issued a warning regarding the systematic exploitation of Yemen Airways by the Iran-backed Houthi group to smuggle prominent political leaders, funds, and military equipment to and from Yemen, posing a threat to the security and stability of Yemen and the region.
In a statement, the platform expressed deep concern over the use of Yemen Airways’ four aircraft, which were hijacked and detained at Sana’a International Airport last June, by the globally recognized terrorist group Houthis to facilitate the departure of prominent Houthi leaders from the capital, Sana’a, to capitals of nations hostile to the Saudi-led Arab coalition.
The platform monitored the smuggling of more than 300 Houthi leaders linked to security, military, and intelligence agencies, all of whom are listed on international blacklists, from Sana’a to various countries to carry out secret security, military, and intelligence missions. This, according to the statement, poses a real threat to the security and stability of the region’s countries and raises concerns about potential hostile operations by the Houthis against these nations.
The smuggling of Houthi leaders, large sums of money placed in special accounts abroad, and weapons via Yemen Airways to and from Sana’a International Airport coincides with the entry of Iranian and Iraqi experts into Yemen. This also follows the arrival of the new Iranian ambassador, Ali Mohammad Rezaei, in Sana’a, where he presented his credentials to Jamal Amer, who was appointed by the Houthis as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates on August 27.
The platform confirmed that among the figures who departed from Sana’a International Airport on Yemen Airways was Abdul Azim al-Houthi, the uncle of the Houthi leader, who traveled to Iraq, and Shams al-Din Sharaf al-Din, the “Mufti of Yemen,” in addition to several prominent security and intelligence leaders within the group.
The Platform for Tracking Organized Crime and Money Laundering in Yemen condemned these criminal acts, which threaten the security and stability of Yemen and the entire region. It called on the international community to take immediate steps to halt these illegal activities.
The platform also urged the relevant authorities to take the necessary measures to hold those involved accountable and to prevent the continued use of Yemen Airways in such dangerous activities.
In its statement, the platform reaffirmed its commitment to continue tracking these illegal and unlawful activities carried out by the Houthis, exploiting national resources owned by the Yemeni people, and exposing all those behind them. It emphasized the need for cooperation from relevant international bodies to ensure that criminals and those involved in terrorist operations, financial crimes, and money laundering do not escape justice.
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By/radwa sherif ✏️✏️📚