Iranian Smuggling Operation Busted in Red Sea

Yemen’s National Resistance naval forces intercepted an Iranian smuggling vessel in the Red Sea carrying fertilizer shipments destined for the Houthi militia, marking the latest effort to disrupt Tehran’s covert support for the group.

The operation, based on precise intelligence, targeted a boat named “Zaid” en route to Al-Salif Port in Hodeidah. Authorities arrested 12 crew members—nine Iranians and three Pakistanis—who had departed from Iran’s Chabahar Port.

   Crew Identities: The Iranians were identified as Abdulghani Abdullah Rasani (captain), Abdullah Bar Mohammad, Aslam Kushuk Arun, Mohsen Shirk Arun, Murtada Mohammad Ain, Anis Osman Arbatazadah, Abdullah Mohammad Raisi, and Amin Ismail Nazar Kohen. The Pakistani nationals included Abdullah Saleh Dada, Awziz Abdulaziz Saleh Dada, and Farhan Qadir Baksh.

   Cargo: The vessel carried Iranian-made fertilizers, part of a broader scheme by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to fund Houthi operations through illicit trade of goods like oil derivatives and narcotics.

Confessions Reveal Systematic Smuggling:

In recorded testimonies, Captain Rasani admitted the shipment was ordered by an Iranian merchant, “Sheikhi,” who provided falsified documents claiming the cargo originated in Pakistan. Rasani revealed:

   A companion vessel, “Imran,” sank off Oman’s coast earlier, with its crew rescued and repatriated to Pakistan.

   The crew diverted to Djibouti for repairs but were instructed to avoid Al-Makha Port at all costs and deliver the cargo exclusively to Houthi-controlled Al-Salif.

Despite the crew’s denials of IRGC ties, their testimonies exposed a coordinated Iranian strategy to mask smuggling operations under commercial cover. Notably, U.S. authorities had inspected “Zaid” in the Arabian Sea but failed to detect the forged paperwork, allowing the vessel to proceed until Yemeni forces intervened.

The incident underscores Iran’s reliance on clandestine networks to sustain proxy militias in conflict zones. By exploiting maritime routes and forged documentation, Tehran continues to evade international sanctions while fueling instability in Yemen.