Yemeni coffee farmers complain about Houthi militia detaining their products at Dhamar customs

Yemeni farmers complained that the Houthi militia was detaining quantities of Yemeni coffee at Dhamar Customs, on the pretext that it was a foreign product.

Farmers from Ibb Governorate (central Yemen) said that the Houthi militia at Dhamar Customs had detained a quantity of Yemeni coffee while it was on its way to the capital, Sana’a.

The farmers added to "Yemeni Youth Net" that customs officials frequently seize quantities of local coffee and blackmail them financially to release them.

In their complaints, farmers referred to the financial losses they incur as a result of the detention of their coffee crops and the long follow-up process for their release.

The Houthi militia deliberately detains agricultural products at newly established customs and tax collection points at the entrances to cities under its control, forcing farmers to pay large financial taxes or detaining their products and exposing them to spoilage.

In recent years, the Houthi militia has launched a broad war on local agricultural products, including coffee, grapes, pomegranates, garlic, tomatoes, onions, and other products, which has caused the bankruptcy of thousands of farmers and traders.