Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:
An armed gang affiliated with an influential trader has intercepted gas tankers belonging to the Yemeni Gas Company in the Al-Quraisha area of Al-Shamayatayn district in rural Taiz Governorate (southwest Yemen).
“A number of gas tanker drivers reported that masked gunmen affiliated with trader Amin Tawfiq Abdul Rahim, riding motorcycles, intercepted them this evening in the Al-Quraisha area while they were transporting gas, forced them to stop, and punctured the tires of one of the tankers whose driver refused to comply with their orders.”
According to the drivers’ account, the aforementioned gang specializes in intercepting gas, and this incident is the third in a few weeks, as the interceptions have contributed to creating an acute gas crisis due to increased demand with the approach of the holy month.”
Gas tanker drivers have filed complaints with the security authorities in the governorate and registered a report at the Al-Shamayatayn police station.
Last month, an armed gang in Marib set up an armed checkpoint on gas supplies designated for Taiz Governorate, and it was confirmed that they were affiliated with the aforementioned trader. Armed groups also set up other checkpoints in the governorates of Abyan and Shabwa (south).
According to sources, major traders and speculators in household gas are seeking to obstruct the work of the Yemeni Gas Company in order to create crises to force citizens to accept black market prices.
