UK Warship Interdicts Illicit Drugs Shipment in Gulf of Oman
MANAMA, Bahrain – A United Kingdom Royal Navy frigate seized 1,041 kilograms of illegal drugs while transiting international waters during a counter-narcotics patrol in the Gulf of Oman, Jan. 15. HMS Montrose (F236) was operating as part of an international task force called Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, which has increased regional patrols to locate and disrupt unlawful maritime activity. CTF 150 is one of three task forces under Combined Maritime Forces. Montrose seized 663 kilograms of heroin, 87 kilograms of methamphetamine and 291 kilograms of hashish and marijuana worth a combined U.S. street value estimated at $26 million. “Our relentless efforts have resulted in a substantial seizure of illegal narcotics and I am extremely proud of my team,” said Cmdr. Claire Thompson, Montrose’s commanding officer. “Our enduring presence never wanes.” Montrose has been operating in the region since 2019 from Bahrain and periodically rotates its crew. “Nine rotations…
Task Force 150 holds Change of Command
NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN – Pakistan Navy Commodore Vaqar Muhammad relieved Royal New Zealand Navy Capt. Brendon Clark as commander of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 during a ceremony at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Jan. 18. Established in 2002, CTF 150 is one of three task forces under Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). CTF 150 conducts maritime security operations outside the Arabian Gulf to ensure that legitimate commercial shipping can transit the region, free from non-state threats. “It has been an honor and a privilege to have commanded Combined Task Force 150, leading a professional, high performing and agile team,” said Clark. “As a staff we achieved outstanding results, seizing in regional wholesale value $74.5 million worth of narcotics – the second largest haul in dollar value from a command team in the 20-year history of CMF.” Clark served as the first commander of CTF 150 from the Royal New Zealand…
Naval Leaders Strengthen Regional Maritime Partnerships During Annual CMF Maritime Security Conference
MANAMA, Bahrain–Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, Commander of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, and U.S. 5th Fleet, praised CMF for “making the region safer and more prosperous” during the 2021 Maritime Security Conference, July 14. The annual conference was held at CMF headquarters in Bahrain and brought together representatives from CMF’s 34 member nations to discuss the year’s accomplishments in promoting lasting regional maritime security and future opportunities and challenges. “This gathering is such a tremendous opportunity for the members of Combined Maritime Forces to strengthen our partnerships – and in the process continue to make the region safer and more prosperous,” said Cooper. “It’s a privilege to be part of such a vital and unified group.” CMF leads international task forces that counter piracy, protect freedom of navigation from non-state actors, and disrupts the shipment of drugs and illegal arms. For example, in the past year,…
FS Languedoc Expands CTF-150 Record with $4.3 Million Counter Narcotics Seizure
French Marine Nationale ship FS Languedoc, assigned to Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, seized 902 lbs (409 kg) of heroin worth over $4.3 million dollars during a maritime counter-narcotics operation, June 6. Within twenty-four hours of entering the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) area of operations, the French frigate identified a potential smuggler and began boarding procedures to identify and seize the illegal drugs, ensuring millions of dollars in proceeds were kept out of the hands of terrorist organizations and other groups who would have used this money to bring harm to others. “The counter-narcotics operation we conducted on June 6 went very smoothly. The crew’s adaptability, and the support we had from CTF-150, was put to good use to conduct this operation effectively, despite the darkness and rough seas,” said Captain Yves Le Goff, commanding officer of FS Languedoc. “We are proud to have contributed to the fight against illicit…
Senior Pakistan Navy Officers Visit United States Coast Guard Training Facility
Combined Maritime Forces’ counter-piracy task force commander, Commodore Abdul Munib SI (M), and the commander of Pakistan’s Navy flotilla in the region, Commodore Khan Muhamad Asif SI (M) visited the U.S. Coast Guard Patrol Force Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA) squadron training facility in Bahrain. The Commodores and their teams, including the Commanding Officers of Pakistan ships PNS Alamgir and PNS Azmat received a briefing from PATFORSWA Commanding Officer Captain Willie L. Carmichael before touring the engineering warehouse and the Maritime Engagement Team facility. The tour included the unique ‘Ship in a Box’ – a 1:1-scale mockup of a dhow inside an environmentally-controlled facility, used to train ships’ boarding teams on Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) procedures. The facility also contains mock up containers of a merchant vessel on which similar procedures are practiced. “This facility provides an excellent opportunity for CMF member nations to train their crew for Maritime Security…
Canadian and Australian members from CTF-150 Contribute to Seychelles Capacity-Building Initiative to Enhance Regional Maritime Security
Canadian and Australian staff from the multinational Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) deployed to the Republic of Seychelles from May 1-14, 2021 to provide training assistance to the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Their goal was to help build the capacity of regional partners in maritime security operations. The training involved participants from four nations – Comoros, Kenya, Tanzania, and Seychelles – who took part in both practical and theoretical courses related to Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) as well as Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA). The courses included search techniques, legal briefings, equipment and weapons handling, operational planning, safety procedures, practical exercises, and a swimming assessment. Through their enhanced knowledge and practical training, recipients will be better positioned to contribute to enhanced maritime security and safety of navigation in the East African regional waters. This is the first time that the multinational task force contributes to…
Marine Nationale and Royal Canadian Navy Continue Counter-Narcotics Victories under CTF-150
The Marine Nationale’s (MN) FS Guépratte and the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) ship HMCS Calgary, prove themselves unrelenting, making four rapid counter-narcotic seizures under CTF-150. FS Guépratte commenced the successful streak with a seizure of 6,136 lbs (2,784 kg) of hashish on 12 May. HMCS Calgary followed the French frigate’s lead, striking in quick succession on 16, 17 and 18 May, seizing a combined haul of 15,465 lbs (7,015 kg) of hashish, 330 lbs (150 kg) of heroin and 529 lbs (240 kg) of methamphetamine. The total of the four maritime interdictions has deprived regional terrorist and criminal organizations of over $11.5 million dollars. “The anti-narcotics operation that we conducted on 12 May went very smoothly thanks to the great responsiveness of the CTF-150 command levels,” said Captain Guilhem Desvignes, commanding officer of the FS Guépratte. “The professionalism of the crew allowed us to conduct the operation efficiently, despite working…
Royal Canadian Navy Led Task Force Making an Impact on Regional Smuggling
After just over four months of command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, the Canadian-led task force has made strong contributions to the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) mission to increase regional maritime security and halt illicit smuggling in the Middle East. Since Canada assumed command of CTF-150 on 27 January, 2021, the task force’s counter-narcotics efforts have been substantial. In partnership with navies from the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Canada, CTF-150 has led a total of 26 drug busts. The numbers in terms of total interdictions are impressive: 78,555 lbs (35,632 kg) of hashish; 8,973 lbs (4,070 kg) of heroin; and a stunning 6,762 lbs (3,067 kg) of methamphetamine, a narcotic whose presence is emerging in regional smuggling circuits. Together, these operations have interdicted over $143.6 million dollars of narcotics, the proceeds of which are linked to the financing of regional terrorist and criminal organizations in the…
HMCS Calgary Saves Sea Turtle while Operating as a Part of CMF
Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Calgary rescued a sea turtle in distress while on counter-smuggling patrols in direct support to CMF’s Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) off the coast of Oman. The rescue occurred around 7:30 a.m. on 4 May, after the turtle was spotted by the ship’s Navigating Officer Lieutenant (Navy) (Lt(N)) Evan Park. The turtle was struggling helplessly in netting and other debris that had formed together after being adrift at sea. Lt(N) Park sought approval by the ship’s Commanding Officer Commander (Cdr) Mark O’Donohue to dispatch a small boat team. “It’s unfortunate but we often see debris of this type at sea. I have made it a habit when on watch to take a closer inspection in these situations to see if sea life is in danger, when it’s safe for the ship to do so,” said Lt(N) Park. The small boat team was promptly dispatched, and…
Combined Maritime Forces Bids Farewell to Vice Admiral Paparo
Vice Adm. Samuel J. Paparo has formally handed over command of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) to Vice Adm. Brad Cooper in a ceremony held at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, May 5. Paparo, a U.S. naval aviator and Topgun graduate, will assume duties as the 4-star commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT) based in Hawaii. Cooper takes command of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and CMF, having most recently commanded U.S. Naval Surface Force Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia. CMF headquarters – located in Bahrain for 20 – years is the largest naval coalition in the world, with 34 nations partnered and committed to combating counter-piracy, counter-terror and counter illicit trafficking from non-state actors. “CMF works so well because of the relationships between strategic partners, regional forces and international organizations to deliver maritime security operations and to build maritime security across the region,” said Paparo. “We are invested…