New Zealand-led Combined Task Force 150 and Royal Navy Interdict Over $36 Million Worth of Illicit Drugs

MANAMA, Bahrain – A U.K. Royal Navy ship, working in direct support of New Zealand-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), seized over USD $36 million dollars’ worth of illicit narcotics from a vessel in the Arabian Sea, May 22.

HMS Lancaster seized 1000kg of heroin, 660kg hashish, and 6kg of amphetamine while patrolling in the North Arabian Sea. Identifying and tracking a suspicious vessel using an uncrewed aerial system, the ship’s boarding team went to investigate. Two sea boats with embarked Royal Marine Boarding Teams approached the vessel while a WT2 Wildcat helicopter with a Royal Marine sniper team embarked, conducted overwatch.

Once aboard, the team discovered multiple packages containing illicit narcotics. The packages were transported back to the ship for testing to confirm the contents and subsequently disposed of.

Lancaster’s commanding officer, Royal Navy Cmdr. Chris Chew, said his crew’s motivation, commitment and dedication have once again paid off.

“This is another example of where Lancaster has delivered at range, in isolation, utilizing her own organic assets,” Chew said. “Whether they come in the form of her Wildcat, un-crewed air system, embarked intelligence team or her Royal Marine Boarding Team, [they delivered] on operations in support of the Combined Maritime Forces construct and New Zealand-led CTF 150.”

The Commander of Combined Force 150, Royal New Zealand Navy Cmdr. Rodger Ward, said interdiction operations such as this are a true team effort, requiring tight coordination, “from the men and women here in the headquarters in Bahrain reaching through to those out on the oceans disrupting drug smuggling operations at the coal face.”

“I’d like to acknowledge the 210-strong ship’s company from HMS Lancaster for continuing to get amongst it day-after-day,” he said. “Everyone in the team can be proud of their efforts to disrupt the criminal and terrorist organizations that continue to use illicit narcotics to fund their activities. This is a significant blow to their revenue stream. This successful interdiction is tantamount to the tenacity, training and professionalism from our Royal Navy partners.”

HMS Lancaster is a Duke-class Type 23 frigate of the Royal Navy deployed to the Middle East region to provide regional maritime security and stability.

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 46-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.