New Zealand-led navies conclude counter narcotics operations in Middle East waters

The New Zealand-led Combined Maritime Task Force 150 (CTF 150) has concluded counter narcotics operations in the Middle East.

25 June, 2025

Over the six-month period of command from the Royal New Zealand Navy’s Commodore Rodger Ward, ships operating in direct support to CTF 150 conducted 55 boardings.

The boardings resulted in the seizure and destruction of 7 tonnes of narcotics with a combined street value of more than NZ$1.8 billion.

CTF 150 is one of five operational task forces under the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) based in Bahrain and is focussed on maritime security in the Middle East, in particular the disruption of drug smuggling operations.

The New Zealand-led team was supported by personnel from the militaries of Australia, Canada, India, Singapore and the United States, which contributed members to the headquarters.

A large group of personnel stand with their arms behind their backs, legs shoulder-width apart on the flight deck of HMNZS Te Kaha.

Frigate HMNZS Te Kaha spent two months working for the Middle East’s Combined Maritime Taskforce 150, which was under New Zealand command for six months.

“The strength of the CMF is the 46 nations working together with a common aim of enhancing and upholding the rules-based international system,” Commodore Ward said.

“In particular ensuring the freedom of the global maritime commons, the waters which allow our trade to flow safely from nation to nation.

“Our mission was anchored by four objectives: whakapono (trusted partners), mahi tahi (working together), kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and he heremana tatou (we are sailors). We based all of our operations and activities on these and they ensured that we got the most out of this opportunity.”

During the six-month period, CTF 150 conducted more boardings than over similar periods in previous years but found fewer drugs.

“The evidence of our success is not just the amount of drugs we interdicted,” Commodore Ward said.

“Our engagement with partners across the region indicates that the amount of narcotics we disrupted could be as much as three times that. CMF is focused on countering this illicit activity and the smugglers know that.”

Commodore Ward said he was proud of what the 26-strong multinational staff were able to achieve.

“We can all go home happy with the fruits of our labours.”

HMNZS Te Kaha was assigned to CTF 150 for a period of two months before leaving the region, and conducted a significant number of boardings during that time. The intelligence collected also resulted in the disruption of further smuggling operations.