Mr. Salem  Al-Khanbashi, Member of the Presidential Leadership Council and Governor of Hadhramaut, issued a decision today mandating stricter oversight at land, sea, and air ports of entry, as well as the implementation of measures to combat terrorism and smuggling.

Decision No. (138) of 2026, issued by the Member of the Presidential Leadership Council and Governor of Hadramout, stipulates the following:
Having reviewed the prevailing Yemeni Constitution; Local Authority Law No. (4) of 2000 and its amendments; Customs Law No. (14) of 1990 and its amendments; Seaports Law No. (23) of 2013; and the decision of the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council No. (1) of 2026;
And acting in accordance with high-level directives issued by His Excellency the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council; the outcomes of the joint meeting held on August 27, 2026, regarding the strengthening of sovereign security, tightening oversight at ports of entry, and combating smuggling; and in the interest of the supreme national good, the protection of national security, and the preservation of the economic assets of the governorate and the nation; Driven by a sense of national responsibility, a commitment to state sovereignty and prestige, and regard for the public interest, the following has been decided:
Article (1): All state agencies and offices at land, sea, and air ports of entry and transit points—as well as military and security entities—shall, within their respective legal competencies and authorities, implement the following:
– Intensify security and customs oversight of all activities and transactions within ports of entry, and prevent the smuggling of weapons and equipment intended for military or dual use, as well as the smuggling of funds, goods, and prohibited or illicit commodities.
– Close any illegal ports or passages and prohibit their use under any circumstances. – Tighten inspection and verification procedures for all incoming and outgoing goods and commodities, in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and statutes.
– All ports and transit points must adhere to the powers and duties assigned to them under prevailing legislation, laws, and regulations, and must not exceed them under any circumstances; the implementation of any directives conflicting with the provisions of this clause is strictly prohibited, regardless of the issuing authority.
– Activate direct coordination with the local authority leadership in the governorate and with security and military agencies to ensure the unified implementation of this decision.
– To reinforce principles of integrity, transparency, and anti-corruption, and to prevent the facilitation of smuggling operations at ports of entry, the principle of job rotation shall be applied to any employee whose continuous tenure in a specific department or section exceeds four (4) years. This shall be carried out in coordination with the local authority leadership and in alignment with the employee's academic specialization and technical expertise, while ensuring that specialized operational requirements are not compromised and that the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and anti-corruption are upheld. All concerned entities must disregard any unauthorized or unlawful interventions or directives, and it is emphasized that no exceptions outside the legal framework or directives bypassing competent institutions shall be permitted.
All concerned entities must take strict and immediate measures to verify the validity of documentation for all vehicles—including four-wheel-drive vehicles, trucks, and heavy equipment—and identify the entities or individuals utilizing them. In the event of suspected use for non-civilian purposes, such vehicles must be immediately impounded, and an urgent report submitted to the local authority for necessary legal action.
All concerned entities must immediately implement and strictly adhere to any official lists issued by competent state agencies regarding equipment, vehicles, and materials prohibited from transport into areas controlled by Houthi militias.
All concerned entities must ensure their sites maintain a high level of security and military readiness—in direct coordination with the leadership of the First and Second Military Regions and Public Security commanders in the Coast, Valley, and Desert areas—to guarantee rapid response capabilities.
All concerned entities must activate high-quality surveillance camera systems at their respective entry points, ports, facilities, and checkpoints. All concerned entities are required to impound any vehicle lacking official documentation or license plates and to conduct daily, continuous enforcement campaigns to ensure compliance with this directive.