Dubai , Uae ( CNN ) -- Dubai police have intercepted an illegal shipment of 16,000 pistols from Turkey to Yemen , Dhahi Khalfan Tamim , the Dubai Police commander-in-chief , said Thursday . `` We shall not allow any criminal elements to use our territories to carry out any illicit plot that poses threat to peace and security of any country , '' Tamim said . The weapons were found in a shipping container in Dubai 's port . Six people were arrested for their alleged links to the smuggling of the weapons valued at more than $ 2 million , Tamim said . `` The huge amount of brand-faked hand guns along with additional bullet chambers , manufactured in Turkey , were carefully hidden among wrapped boxes carrying furniture in a container which was temporarily stored in one of Dubai 's storehouses , '' a government statement said . Like a number of nations in the Middle East and North Africa , Yemen has experienced growing unrest . A crackdown on protesters last week left 52 people dead . Protesters have called for the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh , who has ruled Yemen since 1978 . The country has been wracked by a Shiite Muslim uprising , a U.S.-aided crackdown on al Qaeda operatives and a looming shortage of water . High unemployment fuels much of the anger among a growing young population suffering from poverty . The protesters also cite government corruption and a lack of political freedom . Saleh has promised not to run for president in the next round of elections . CNN 's Caroline Faraj contributed to this report .
The weapons were found in a shipping container in Dubai 's port . The shipment included two pistols made in Turkey . Like a number of countries in the Middle East and North Africa , Yemen has experienced civil unrest .