Yemeni authorities burn hashish, amphetamine drugs

Sana'a: Authorities burnt about 1,477 kg of hashish and more than one million tablets of amphetamine drugs confiscated from smugglers.

The special State Security Court ordered the destruction of the drugs that were seized from different areas in Yemen this year.

Judge Redwan Al Namer and prosecutor Ali Hassan Askar witnessed the operation. Askar said the hashish was seized from Al Mahra and Hadramout provinces from Iranian and Pakistani smugglers.

"Some of the narcotic drugs were seized while being smuggled inside heaters at Sana'a Airport," he said. "The smugglers are undergoing trials."

An official report issued by the anti-drugs department said about 28 tonnes of hashish and 14 million tablets of drugs were seized in Yemen since 2005 until October this year.

"The number of drug-related cases was 401, while the number of those accused of dealing with drugs was 738, including 619 Yemenis and 119 other nationalities," the report added. Hadramout, Sa'ada and Shabwa provinces are considered transit routes for drug smugglers from India and Pakistan on way to Gulf countries.