A TOTAL of 1,041kg of illegal drugs, worth an estimated $26 million, were seized during a counter-narcotics operation in the Gulf of Oman by a British frigate.
The raid was conducted on a stateless dhow by personnel from the Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose on January 15.
The frigate operates as part of the international Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 which has stepped up patrols to locate and disrupt unlawful maritime activity.
CTF 150 is one of three task forces under the Bahrain-based Combined Maritime Forces(CMF).
The drugs seized included 663kg of heroin, 87kg of methamphetamine and 291kg of hashish and marijuana.
“Our relentless efforts have resulted in a substantial seizure of illegal narcotics,” said Montrose commanding officer Commander Claire Thompson.
The frigate has been operating in the region since 2019 from Bahrain.
CTF 150 seized more than $189m worth of illegal drugs (at regional wholesale prices) during counter-narcotics operations at sea last year.
The 34-nation CMF, which includes Bahrain’s navy, attempts to counter illicit non-state actors in the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Oman.
The three task forces under the CMF include CTF 150 (counterterrorism and maritime security operations), CTF 151 (anti-piracy operations) and CTF 152 (Gulf maritime security operations).
In the past year, CMF-led forces seized illegal narcotics amounting to a wholesale value of more than $214m.
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