The weapons cargo which the Yemeni authorities have lately seized included Iranian-made Sam-2 and Sam-3 anti-aircraft missiles, the state news agency Saba reported on Saturday.
The agency quoted a security official at the high security committee as saying the authorities obtained information the arms cargo, which was seized in the Yemeni territorial waters, was planned to be unloaded secretly at Yemeni coasts.
“The authorities are now checking the weapons which were concealed inside four stores designed at the bottom of the ship and covered with a 100.000-liter diesel tank to smuggle the weapons in a perfect way,” the official said.
“Iran handed the ship to eight Yemeni sailors who were arrested and are being investigated,” the official said, pointing out that all details about the seizure and the investigations into it will be made public when completed.
The Iranian weapons were part of a string of arms cargoes which the Yemeni authorities have recently seized including thousands of pistols and machine guns coming from Turkey and China.
Iran has been accused of providing direct support to violent and extremist groups in the country such as the Shiite Houthi Group in the far north and some factions which are seeking the separation of the south.