New Zealand-led task force, with Royal Navy, seizes NZ$1b worth of drugs in Arabian Sea

Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster was patrolling in the North Arabian Sea late last week, when crew identified and tracked a small cargo dhow acting in a suspicious manner.  

After observing the dhow using a Peregrine uncrewed aerial system, Royal Marine boarding teams boarded the vessel while a Wildcat helicopter with a Royal Marine sniper team covered them.

Once the six crew were secured, the boarding team found 50 packages containing 1000kg of heroin, 55 packages containing 660kg of hashish and 6kg of amphetamine tablets. The drugs were taken back to the ship for testing and disposal.  

Lancaster Commanding Officer, Commander Chris Chew, says the ship’s latest success was the result of his crew’s motivation, commitment and dedication.

“This is another example of where Lancaster has delivered at range, in isolation, utilising her own organic assets,” he said.

Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) Commodore Rodger Ward is Commander of CTF 150.

“This is the largest value narcotics interdiction we’ve made under our New Zealand command this year."

“Conducting maritime interdictions requires a team effort 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 Lancaster for continuing to get amongst it day-after-day.

“Everyone in the team can be proud of their efforts to disrupt the criminal and terrorist organisations that continue to use illicit narcotics to fund their activities and this is a significant blow to their revenue stream.” 

The seizure was testament to the tenacity, training and professionalism from CTF 150’s Royal Navy partners, he said. 

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

Collectively CTF 150 and partners have now seized narcotics with a New Zealand street value of $NZ1.8b, Commodore Ward said. 

“Furthermore we estimate that our presence and the intelligence collected from our operations has resulted in the disruption of nearly three times that amount.”

RNZN frigate HMNZS Te Kaha was also deployed to CTF 150 over the last two months, conducting similar operations as Lancaster as part of New Zealand’s commitment to collective security efforts in the Middle East.