Arms Trafficking
WASHINGTON: In a recent development, four individuals holding Pakistani identity papers have been charged in a US federal court for their alleged involvement in transporting weapons from Iran to Yemen in support of the Houthi rebels.
Additionally, 10 other individuals were detained as material witnesses, with their identities remaining undisclosed. These individuals are also facing charges in a US court in the Eastern District of Virginia.
The incident unfolded on January 11 when US Central Command Navy forces, including Navy SEALs and members of the US Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team, boarded an unidentified vessel in the Arabian Sea, off the coast of Somalia.
Upon conducting a thorough search, US forces discovered and confiscated Iranian-made advanced conventional weaponry. This included crucial components for medium-range ballistic missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles, a warhead, and propulsion and guidance components, as detailed in an FBI affidavit.
The seized weaponry is reportedly consistent with the arms used by Houthi forces in recent attacks on both US military and merchant ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Subsequently, the 14 mariners found aboard the vessel were transferred to the USS Lewis B. Puller for safety reasons.
Notably, the four defendants, identified as Mohammad Pahlawan, Mohammad Mazhar, Ghufranullah, and Izhar Mohammad, were allegedly in possession of Pakistani identification cards found on the vessel.
Charges include intentionally transporting a warhead on board the vessel, with claims that it was intended for use by Houthi forces against commercial and naval vessels.
The case has sparked diplomatic engagement, with the Pakistani embassy in Washington stating awareness of the situation and being in contact with US authorities. Overall, four with Pakistani identity face US charges for arms trafficking, accused of smuggling weapons from Iran to Yemen for Houthis.
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