Thwarting an attempt to smuggle Yemeni antiquities through Aden International Airport

The control authorities at the Culture Office in the capital, Aden, in coordination with the security authorities, were able to thwart an attempt to smuggle Yemeni antiquities through Aden International Airport, which were on their way to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

The Culture Office explained in a press statement on Saturday that the airport customs authorities received a shipment of cultural equipment destined for abroad on January 18, 2025. According to the procedures followed, it was transferred to the Department of Control of Artistic and Literary Works for examination, where it was found to contain artifacts of great historical value.

According to the statement, the competent authorities were notified, and the representative of the Culture Office, in coordination with the Director of the Office, Ahmed bin Godal, and the Director of Aden Airport, Abdul Raqib Al-Omari, took the necessary legal measures.

The statement added that the Deputy Director of the Culture Office, Osama Al-Mahwari, accompanied by an antiquities specialist, went to the shipment site to conduct a field examination, which officially confirmed the presence of antiquities among the seized items.

The statement indicated that the case was referred to the Public Prosecution with the seized items to complete the investigations and take appropriate legal measures. The Culture Office also appreciated the fruitful cooperation between the various competent authorities, most notably the airport administration and the security services.

The statement stressed the importance of efforts made to protect the national heritage from smuggling and tampering.