HASHISH AND HEROIN USE SOAR IN 2006

Large amounts of illegal drugs were seized throughout the country in
2006, say security sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
While a variety of drugs were seized, the bulk of the shipments were
of hashish and heroin. "The security forces seized in 2006
more than 2,100 kilograms of drugs, mostly hashish and heroin, from
the various governorates in Yemen. In addition, it seized 41,000
prescription pills of various sizes and uses."

The government has recently stepped up its efforts to combat drugs,
which resulted last year in one of the largest drug busts in recent
memory. In one incident last July, security authorities in Aden
destroyed 1,052 kilograms of hashish and other drugs, including
heroin, the value of which was estimated at YR 526 million. "Such
quantities of drugs were seized thanks to efforts by policemen in
the governorate who fight the phenomenon of trafficking drugs
between Yemen and the neighboring countries," said Chief of Aden
Security Department, Colonel Abdullah Qairan.

"In cooperation with security authorities, many outlets, which had
been used for transporting these harmful substances, have been
controlled by the concerned bodies in the government and civil
community organizations," he added The security forces added that
221 suspects are on trial, and awaiting their verdict on drug
selling. Most of the suspects imprisoned are Yemeni, while four are
from other Arab countries, and 14 are from other foreign countries.

Ten of this last group were Pakistani. They were caught in Mahra
governorate, in a bust that apprehended 25 suspects, who allegedly
imported drugs from foreign counties across the vast Yemeni
coastline. According to the authorities, a large proportion of the
drugs that enter Yemen come through Pakistan. Dr. Wadee Azazi, a
specialized professor in economics says that the reason that drug
use is not as widespread in Yemen as it is in other countries in the
region is because qat is seen as a light and cheaper replacement for
other drugs.

Also, due to poor economic situations in the country, the majority
of citizens don't consider drugs an option. "If it wasn't for the
wide spread of qat in Yemen, we would have seen the use of drugs at
least ten times more than what it is today. In
neighboring countries, it has become a phenomenon to
their economies and fatal to their lives." According to a study
conducted by the Yemen Polling center, over 21 percent of Yemenis
don't have enough money to buy food for their families.

Even though Yemeni people do not tend to be heavy users of any other
drugs other than qat, Yemen is still a major route in taking drugs
to different countries in the region. "The coast line of the country
is very long, which makes it an easy route for many drug dealers to
enter the substance in the country. Even though security forces re
guarding the coastline, dealers still find ways to enter drugs in
the country one way or another," said Azazi. Considering
the strategic location of Yemen, drugs are usually shipped from
Southeast Asia through the Gulf of Aden and other coasts around the
country. From there, they can be shipped to numerous gulf countries,
including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and other countries in the region.

Most of the country's drugs naturally pass through the cities
nearest to the sea. Hodeidah and Aden and Sana'a are among the major
places in the country where drugs can be found. Aden is also
considered to have the highest number of drug users in the country,
according to local observers. Drugs are often sold in
clubs, certain hotels, or occasionally, you will notice prostitutes
themselves selling drugs, therefore attracting more customers, and
being in a position to influence the use of drugs among local who
contact them.

These customers by time ask for more as time goes on. Hashish is 30
to 50 times more expensive than qat. Cocaine on the other hand, has
fewer users yet, the number is increasing dramatically, especially
among the wealthy of the society. "It spreads quicker and
quicker by the day. One would not believe the dangers of its spread
until it reaches his own beloved ones," said Ali Saleh al-Salami, a
father who caught his son using hashis, three years ago while
chewing qat. He never believed that his own family would be affected
by the spread of drugs."

I realized that the money that I used to give him, was the cause to
try drugs in the beginning and than use them on a regular basis," he
adds. The drugs in Yemen are sold at the same price as in other
countries in the region, even though the economic situation in the
country is poorer. According to drug experts in Yemen, the amount
spent on drugs in Yemen on a monthly basis exceeds YR180,000, or
$800, twice the yearly domestic income for an average Yemeni citizen.

Over the last four years, the government has started awareness
programs against drugs, in an effort to crack down on their spread
around the country. Workshops have been conducted, and booklets have
been passed out in schools. Officials hope that soon, these efforts
will bear fruit, and fewer people ever before will try drugs.