Over $130 million worth of illicit drugs seized in Arabian sea

MANAMA – Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Tabuk (F-272), operating in direct support of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Saudi-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, seized November 16 more than USD $130 million worth of narcotics from a vessel in the Arabian Sea, according to CMF website.

“This narcotics interdiction, the second such one in less than a month, has once again highlighted the vital role played by the Combined Maritime Forces through multi-national collaboration,” said Royal Saudi Naval Forces Commodore Fahad Aljoiad, commander, CTF 150.

The dhow of interest was intercepted by PNS Tabuk while conducting a routine maritime security patrol approximately 100 nautical miles east of Oman.

The dhow had no external markings and was not transmitting on the Automatic Identification System, the shipboard maritime tracking and broadcast system required to be utilized by vessels over a certain weight and length by international maritime authorities.

After receiving permission from CTF 150 to conduct a flag-verification boarding, PNS Tabuk’s crew boarded and searched the vessel, discovering more than two tons of crystal methamphetamine (ICE), which was confirmed through testing and subsequently disposed of. According to Regional Narcotics Interagency Fusion Cell (RNIFC) pricing, the ICE had an estimated regional wholesale value of more than USD $130 million.

“Just last month we saw PNS Yarmook interdict over two tons of crystal methamphetamine and 50 kg of cocaine and now with yet another similarly huge haul by PNS Tabuk, this has become the most successful period of narcotics seizures in CMF history, directly attributable to the expertise and collaboration of our combined naval forces,” said Aljoiad.

CTF 150 is one of five task forces under CMF, the world’s largest international naval partnership. CTF 150’s mission is to deter and disrupt the ability of non-state actors to move weapons, drugs and other illicit substances in the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman.

Combined Maritime Forces is a 47-nation naval partnership upholding the international rules-based order by promoting security and stability across 3.2 million square miles of water encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.