A New Zealand-led international maritime task force in the Arabian Sea has seized 318kg of heroin and 83kg of methamphetamine.
It is the second drug bust this year for Combined Maritime Task Force 150 — an operational task force aimed at disrupting drug smuggling operations in the Middle East currently being led by the Royal New Zealand Navy’s commodore Rodger Ward.
The UK Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster was patrolling the northern Arabian Sea when one of the ship’s drones identified “suspicious nighttime activity”, said a New Zealand Defence Force statement.
A Wildcat helicopter was sent to investigate and observed packages being transferred between a small craft and a dhow.
The smugglers allegedly attempted to dispose of the packages by throwing them overboard when they became aware of HMS Lancaster’s sea boat approaching. The packages were recovered by the crew, tested, and disposed of.
It was estimated the 318kg of heroin and 83kg of methamphetamine had a street value of NZ$375 million.
Last month, the US Coast Guard cutter Emlen Tunnell seized nearly 2400kg of hashish aboard a dhow off the coast of Oman.
NZDF Commodore Rodger Ward said it was “pleasing to have another drug bust under our belt”.
He said the operation proved the value of the Combined Maritime Forces, with “many partners, with shared goals, working together for collective maritime security”.
“It is great that we can share this success with our partners from the United Kingdom.”
The Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Kaha would join CTF 150 later this month for similar patrols and boarding operations during its deployment.
