Exclusive agent for Saudi "Al Baraka"...a transport company that smuggles military technology to the Houthis
English - Saturday 05 November 2022 الساعة 08:05 am
Sana'a, NewsYemen, private:
According to security information obtained by NewsYemen, the Houthi militia - the Iranian arm in Yemen - uses local and international land transport companies to smuggle weapons and military technology, as well as transfer intelligence elements to the Yemeni government's areas of influence.
According to the information, the "Al Rafeeq Land Transport Company" is linked to the leader of the militia, Muhammad Ali al-Houthi, head of the so-called "Supreme Revolutionary Committee", and uses the company's buses to transport military equipment and intelligence elements to legitimate areas.
Al-Rafeeq Transport Company, which is the exclusive agent of the Saudi Al-Baraka Company in Yemen, is owned by Mohammed Al-Houthi, while the latter puts other partners in the forefront as the apparent owners of the company.
The company obtains great facilities at Houthi checkpoints, as its buses coming from Saudi Arabia pass through the points without inspection or strict security procedures, which makes travelers prefer Al-Rafeeq Company "Al Baraka Agent" as an option with great privileges on the itinerary.
The sources said that the value of Al-Rafeeq tickets amounts to 500 Saudi riyals, while the rest of the companies are priced at 250 riyals, in addition to the fact that the Al-Rafeeq company allows each passenger to carry a weight of 40 kg and anything more than that takes 4 Saudi riyals for each kilo. Other companies allow each passenger 80 kilos for free.
The reason for the Saudi company, "Al Baraka", to raise the value of tickets for travel via its buses, is due to the exceptional treatment it enjoys at the Houthi militia checkpoints, as it allows it to pass without inspecting passenger bags, as it does with the buses of other transport companies.
NewsYemen sources said that only the "Al-Buraq and Al-Rafiq" companies receive facilities at the Houthi points, noting that the first (Al-Buraq), owned by a Turkish businessman, also provides great services to the Houthis in the military fields and the transfer of precise equipment for drones from the eastern governorates to Sana'a.
On the other hand, Houthi militia members practice arbitrary security measures at checkpoints against other transport buses, dropping off passengers and their luggage, not to mention tearing their bags with sharp tools (knives).
Through its influence with the Houthis, Al-Rafiq Company controls transportation licenses for companies that apply for a work permit for international transportation from Sanaa to Saudi Arabia, where the Houthi leadership of the company is working to prevent the presence of new competing companies.
Smuggling military technology with facilitation of legitimacy
The sources revealed to NewsYemen about an aspect of the Al-Rafeeq Company's activity in smuggling weapons to the Houthis. After leaving the border crossing, it smuggles electronic parts and small engines used in the manufacture of drones, as well as devices for military communications.
She explained that the arms smugglers are waiting for "Al Rafeeq" buses, in predetermined locations on the desert line, according to security arrangements with the Houthis, and they stop to take these shipments and transport them to Sana'a or to Al Bayda Governorate.
According to the information, the company pays amounts allocated to the security points in the legitimate areas in order to facilitate the transit of its buses bearing the "Al Baraka Company" sign.
It also revealed that Al-Rafeeq Company's buses smuggled al-Qaeda members with forged passports issued by Al-Mahra governorate, from Lahj and Aden governorates to areas in Abyan and Shabwa governorates.
The facilities obtained by Al Rafeeq Company were not limited to the Houthi side, as it obtains the majority of Hajj and Umrah transport reservations, which are controlled by the legitimate Yemeni government through the Ministry of Awqaf. It also grants it other privileges such as crossing from the Al-Wadi’a port even on days of severe crowding.
This Houthi-owned company operates 10 land trips in exchange for 4 or 3 trips for other transport companies, and takes advantage of its commercial status as an inventory agent for the Saudi Al Baraka Company to serve the militias and its military and intelligence activities.
