Iran-backed Houthis illegally confiscate money and jewelry from travelers

Acts of looting and illegal confiscating continue against citizens and traders at Houthi checkpoints and inspection points, specifically at the entrances and exits of areas leading to liberated provinces.

Security sources told Khabar Agency that the Houthis, through their checkpoints leading to the liberated provinces, have illegally confiscated millions of riyals and kilograms of jewelry that were in the possession of several citizens and traders traveling to the liberated Yemeni provinces.

According to the sources, the Houthis illegally confiscated around YR87 million of the new currency edition in July, claiming that it was counterfeit and in violation of the decision of the Yemeni Central Bank in Sanaa, which is an excuse to facilitate looting operations.

The Houthi checkpoints also confiscated more than 21 kilograms of gold (jewelry) that were in the possession of travelers. The sources said.

Most of the illegal confiscating took place at the checkpoints at the entrances of Ibb, Al-Baydha and Taiz Governorates. The sources added.

Meanwhile, other security sources told Khabar Agency that a number of Houthi leaders who supervise the checkpoints responsible for confiscating the funds and belongings of travelers send the looted amounts of the new currency edition to the liberated Yemeni provinces and exchange them for hard currency (dollars or Saudi), which are then shared among limited leaders.