Society
Houthis' Captagon trade fuels crime and destabilizes Yemen
Houthi militias have turned Yemen into a manufacturing and smuggling hub for Captagon pills, using profits to fund their terrorist activities.
![An officer of the Directorate of Narcotics Control of Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry empties a bag of tablets of Captagon (Fenethylline) seized during a special operation [Fayez Nureldine/AFP]](/gc1/images/2026/03/08/54925-1-600_384.webp)
By Al-Fassel |
Houthi militia have used drug trafficking particularly the manufacturing and smuggling of Captagon pills into a primary source of funding for their terrorist activities.
Captagon production in areas under their control has become a highly lucrative enterprise, fueling criminal networks and undermining Yemen's stability.
The Houthis' reliance on drug trafficking poses a direct threat to Yemen's national security.
By promoting illegal activities such as smuggling and human trafficking, the group creates an environment of lawlessness that harms communities and weakens governance.
Houthi Captagon operations extend beyond Yemen's borders, fueling organized crime in numerous other countries and contributing to regional instability.
The manufacturing and trafficking of Captagon pills by the Houthis is a deliberate and destructive tactic that undermines Yemen's security and destabilizes the region.
The Iranian-backed militias prioritize profit over the well-being of Yemen's people, strengthening criminal networks and perpetuating chaos.
Houthis profit from destructive Captagon production
This reliance on drug trafficking does not only harm Yemeni communities but also poses a broader threat to regional stability.
The Houthis earn massive profits from destructive Captagon production in areas under their control, such as al-Mahwit and others.
They manage advanced facilities that produce millions of Captagon pills, often modeled after previous operational patterns.
Recent seizure operations conducted by Yemeni authorities have confiscated more than one million Captagon pills hidden in trucks coming from Sanaa.
Thousands more pills seized at crossings like al-Wadiah have revealed direct links to Houthi networks.
This profitable trade generates millions of dollars in Gulf markets, serving as a vital and lucrative revenue source for the group.
The Houthis' drug trade enables them to purchase weapons and continue their terrorist operations instead of protecting the Yemeni people.
These acts are taking place while they exploit poverty and political turmoil to expand their criminal empire that directly threatens Yemen.