The Yemeni authorities seized explosives including Russian-made bombs inside a parcel that was sent from Hadramout province to the capital Sanaa on Friday, the interior ministry reported.
"Half a kilo of TNT, two Russian-made bombs, a mine and 50-cm detonator were seized in Sanaa inside the package, which was supposed to contain henna," it said.
Officials at the local land transport company which transported the explosives found the suspicious package and reported it to the authorities, the ministry said, adding an investigation has been launched into the case.
The seizure occurred hours after official reports said Al-Qaeda bombers carried out early Friday suicide bombings and raids on a military base in the southern province of Abyan killing at least 18 soldiers and injuring others.
The incidents come amid an ongoing, massive hunt for Al-Qaeda militants across the republic in which many militants including senior leaders have been killed, arrested and injured in the past few months