Around 2.5 tonnes of heroin and hashish, worth around $181 million, has been seized by the Indian Navy as part of a New Zealand-led task force.
It was the fourth bust this year for Combined Maritime Task Force 150, an operational task force currently aimed at disrupting drug smuggling operations in the Middle East. Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) Captain Dave Barr was leading the task force.
INS Tarkash made the seizures while patrolling the western Indian Ocean on Monday.
In total, 121kg of heroin and 2386kg of hashish were found when marine commandos boarded and dhow vessel and searched.
According to the New Zealand Defence Force, the drugs were found in various cargo holds and compartments.
The seized drugs had an estimated street value of $181 million.
It brings the total amount of drugs seized by the task force under New Zealand’s command to $661 million.
The smuggling vessel was intercepted after Tarkash received information from CTF 150 command and a patrolling Indian Navy P-8I Pisideon aircraft. Tarkash launched a helicopter before the interception.
“I was very proud of the team and the way they worked together,” RNZN Commodore Rodger Ward said.
“These are young officers and sailors from multiple nations working together using their training and experience to outwit the smugglers and it’s great to see them achieving and celebrating a success.”
Captain Suman Saurabh Sharma from the Indian Navy, the task force’s deputy commander, said the seizure demonstrated how multinational cooperation could stop illegal activity.
“The professionalism and teamwork shown by all of the CMF nations and the units at sea involved in this operation contributed to our success.”
The RNZN frigate HMNZS Te Kaha was also conducting patrols in the area as part of the CTF 150 operations.
