Oman/Yemen: Cross-border smuggling thrives while fighting continues

The Final Report of the Panel of Experts on Yemen presented to the United Nations Security Council, published on 25 January, offered extensive detail on smuggling routes into Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, highlighting the difficulties of enforcing an effective sanctions regime while also allowing trade flows in essential goods to continue. With the illicit weapons trade largely orchestrated by Iran, the report identified a pattern of corruption and ineffective customs and border controls, even in countries opposed to the Houthis such as the UAE.