Aden – Yemeni forces have successfully foiled an attempt to smuggle 24 rare artifacts through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, as the items were en route to countries in the Horn of Africa as part of an organized trafficking operation.

Security sources revealed that Brigade 17 Giants Forces discovered the artifacts during a routine cargo inspection, where they were carefully concealed inside cardboard boxes among automotive spare parts. 

Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the smuggling attempt, and the seized artifacts are now set to be handed over to the relevant authorities.

This operation comes amid an alarming rise in the smuggling of Yemeni antiquities, as many historical sites have been subjected to looting and illegal excavations, leading to the loss of a significant portion of the country’s cultural heritage. Officials have emphasized the importance of intensifying efforts to safeguard Yemen’s historical legacy and prevent its trafficking abroad.