The Bahrain-based 5th Fleet of the US Navy has started offering cash rewards of up to $100K for information leading to the interception of smuggled weapons and narcotics in the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea.
The initiative is clearly aimed at curbing the Iranian arms’ flow to Yemen’s Houthi militia and restricting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-operated lucrative regional drugs trade although it does not directly name Iran.
Tehran has long been smuggling rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, missiles, and other weapons to the Houthis despite the UN Security Council’s arms embargo on Yemen. Analysis of missiles aimed at Saudi Arabia’s civilian targets and oil infrastructure made by UN experts have traced the components back to Iran.
Fleet’s data show that, along with their allies, they’ve intercepted the shipment of 9,000 weapons, triple the number in 2020, and in 2021 they’ve seized $500 million in drugs alone.
Noting the skyrocketing success in seizing both illegal narcotics and illicit weapons last year, 5th Fleet spokesman Cmdr. Timothy Hawkins underscored that any destabilizing activity has their attention in an effort to enhance regional maritime security.
Hawkins said they’ll avoid increasing tensions with Iran since that’s not in the interest of regional stability and security, listing the weapons and drugs as the only thing the Navy hopes to intercept under the program.
The Navy will establish a phone hotline staffed with operators fluent in Arabic, English, and Farsi will, and will engage staff in Dari and Pashto for taking tips online.
Any information on illegal narcotics and illicit weapons smuggling as well as on planned attacks targeting Americans will be awarded with cash payouts as high as $100,000 or the equivalent in vehicles, boats, or food.
That’s the latest initiative under 5th Fleet Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, who also launched a drone task force last year, amid rising tension with Iran.
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