Al-Mahra (South24 Center)

On Monday (March 24), customs officials at the Sarfait border crossing in Al-Mahra Governorate, southern Yemen, intercepted a shipment of 800 Chinese-made drone propellers, Yemen’s official news agency (SABA) reported.

According to Saba, the three-blade propellers, manufactured by the Chinese company Gemfan, are made of fiberglass and carbon fiber. They have a thrust capacity of up to 1050 watts — making them high-performance components typically used in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

In a statement to the agency, Sarfait Customs Director Ahmed Bakrit said the operation was part of the government’s and Higher Anti-Smuggling Committee’s efforts to enforce customs laws, and noted that such shipments could pose a threat to national, regional, and international security.

Bakrit praised the Ministry of Finance and Customs Authority for training and equipping the border personnel, and credited them for the recent anti-smuggling successes.

The statement did not specify the shipment’s final destination. However, in recent years, authorities have intercepted weapons and drone components allegedly bound for the Iran-backed Houthi militia.

Al-Mahra, which borders Oman, contains vital land crossings and has long been a key smuggling route amid Yemen’s ongoing conflict.