Al-Mahrah… Shahin Police Arrest Head of Ethiopian Community on Human Trafficking Charges
Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
Security forces in the Shahin district of Al-Mahrah governorate have arrested (H.Kh.N.), the head of the Ethiopian community, on charges of leading one of the most dangerous human trafficking networks. The operation followed several months of meticulous investigations that confirmed his involvement in smuggling illegal migrants across the Yemeni border into the Sultanate of Oman.
Dr. Rashid Al-Salahi, the district’s Deputy Security Director and Director of Criminal Investigation, revealed that the suspect exploited his position to facilitate smuggling and extort migrants, threatening to report some of them if they did not pay money.
Al-Salahi added that the investigations documented a number of incidents indicating that the suspect organized a trafficking network and used his position for illegal gains, endangering the lives of migrants. The actions were also found to be in violation of national and international laws related to migration.
The suspect is currently under investigation and is expected to be referred, along with others, to the Public Prosecution for appropriate legal action.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation in local and human rights circles, with migration activists viewing it as a strong message that Al-Mahrah governorate will not be a safe haven for smugglers. They praised the efforts of the Shahin police in combating these networks that profit from human suffering.
It is expected that the ongoing investigations will reveal more details about the network and its members, which could contribute to undermining trafficking activities in the region and protecting migrants from exploitation.
