Cocaine and hashish spreading in Yemen [Archives:2005/906/Reportage]

Hakim Almasmari
hakim_almasmari@hotmail
Drugs such as cocaine, heroine, marijuana, hashish have been increasingly noticed in Yemen during the last five years. For example, in the capital Sana'a it is now being sold in a number of common places such as Bab-al-Yemen and certain hotels on Taiz Street. These areas were drug free just 10 years ago. Parents are increasingly fearing the further spread of such addictions among youth, especially that the Yemeni society is still trying to limit the use of the Qat addiction.

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, it is shipped to numerous gulf countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and other countries in the region. Not surprisingly, many of these illegal drugs are left behind and used in Yemen. New markets for these drugs have been created in places like Aden, Hodieda, and other cities across the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf shores.

The spread of these addictions is more common among the rich class of society rather than the poor. “The only people using these drugs are the children of government officials and rich businessmen””