UK Warship, Combined Maritime Forces Seize Illicit Drugs Worth $18M
MANAMA, Bahrain – For the second time in 10 days, United Kingdom Royal Navy warship HMS Montrose (F236) interdicted a stateless fishing vessel transporting illegal drugs in the Gulf of Oman, Jan. 24. Montrose was conducting a counter-narcotics patrol when it seized 150 kilograms of heroin, 250 kilograms of methamphetamine and 665 kilograms of hashish worth a total estimated U.S. street value of $18 million. “This seizure is a manifestation of the resolve and commitment of surface and air assets supporting Combined Maritime Forces to suppress and deter illicit activities at sea,” said Pakistan Navy Commodore Vaqar Muhammad, commander of Combined Task Force 150, one of three task forces under Combined Maritime Forces. Combined Maritime Forces is the largest multinational naval partnership in the world. The organization includes 34 nations and is headquartered in Bahrain with U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. 5th Fleet.
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…
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…
Japanese Ships Hand Over CTF-151 Counter-Piracy Duties
The Japanese warship Ariake will be heading home after completing five months of counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. Led by Commander Naritaka Ezawa, JS Ariake, a Murasame Class Destroyer, has conducted safeguarding duties for hundreds of merchant ships on their transit through the region. Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 Commander, Commodore Abdul Munib SI (M) has offered special thanks to the Ariake for her support to the Task Force’s important mission. During her time in support of CTF-150, JS Ariake participated in additional focused operations to deter piracy activities. The Ariake crew has also engaged in several Passage Exercises, demonstrating their ability to operate alongside warships from other nations. The ability to operate together, despite a potential language barrier, is key to the success of CTF-151 in combating piracy. The more warships use a common set of standard operating procedures, the greater the flexibility provided at the command…
Combined Task Force Visits Senior Oman Armed Forces Leadership
Commander of Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, Commodore Abdul Munib SI (M) visited the Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces, Vice Admiral Abdullah Bin Khamis Al Raisi, and the Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman, Rear Admiral Saif Bin Nassir Al Rahbi in Oman. The meetings, held on 8th April under strict COVID guidelines, included talks around future capacity building and counter-piracy operations in and around the Gulf of Aden. All parties were keen to provide complete support for CMF operations. Commander of CTF-151, Commodore Abdul Munib (L) and the Commander of Royal Navy of Oman, Rear Admiral Saif Bin Nassir Al Rahbi (R) discuss mutual interests, maritime security and enhancing cooperation and collaboration between CMF and the Royal Navy of Oman. (Photo: Combined Task Force 151). During their visit, RAdm Al Rahbi praised Cdre Munib on his team’s successful conduct of their recent Focused Operation (FO)…
Pakistan Chief of Naval Staff Visits CMF Headquarters
Pakistan’s Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi visited Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) headquarters in Bahrain, March 15. During the visit he met with Commodore Abdul Munib SI (M), the Pakistan Navy Commander of CTF-151, and Royal Navy Commodore Ed Ahlgren, deputy commander of CMF, to discuss Pakistan’s contribution to the enduring CMF partnership, and the ongoing success in deterring piracy from the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of Oman. In the past year, there have been no successful piracy attempts on merchant vessels in the CTF-151 area of operations; no mean feat given the vast area of water covered. “CMF works so well because of the relationship between strategic partners, regional forces and international organizations to deliver maritime security operations and to build maritime security across the region,” said Ahlgren. “This in turn will benefit the overall commercial and military shipping industry by helping to safeguard…
CTF-151 Leads Multinational Counter-Piracy Operation
A large multinational counter-piracy operation has been conducted by the Pakistan-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 in the Gulf of Aden. Focused Operation (FO) TAHAFFUZ was held from 26 February to 5 March, 2021, and was supported by assets from nine different nations with a shared objective to protect global maritime commerce. “FO TAHAFFUZ was conducted to support Combined Maritime Forces (CMF)’s overall campaign objectives of deterring suspected pirates from re-commencing their operations in the region,” said Chief of Staff to Commander CTF 151, Captain Adnan Laghari of Pakistan Navy. “Although the FO is now concluded, we still encourage all merchantmen plying through the Gulf of Aden to keep following the Best Management Practice BMP5 guidelines, and using the Internationally Recognized Transit Corridor for their safety.” In addition to Pakistan Navy, the US Navy, Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, Hellenic Navy, Spanish Navy, and European Union Naval Force Somalia (Operation ATALANTA)…
Commanders of CTF-151 and CTF-465 Discuss Future Joint Operations
CTF-151 Commander Commodore (Cdre) Abdul Munib SI (M) recently held a video teleconference with the Commander of EUNAVFOR’s Task Force-465 (TF-465), Commodore Diogo Arroteia. While Cdre Munib was at CMF HQ in Bahrain, Cdre Arroteia was operating from the Spanish frigate Reina Sofía, as they actively conduct counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia. Cdre Munib thanked Cdre Arroteia for his continuous support in providing TF-465 ships and maritime patrol aircraft; “We have been supporting each other well out at sea to maintain our force flow and respond to maritime security events. We need to maintain this coordination in the future as well.” “Together, we need to keep our guard up for any suspicious activity out at sea and relay information to all stakeholders; the area of operations is big, and working in collaboration is key to conducting effective patrols independently,” he added. After assuming command of the CTF-151 on…
CTF-151 and Djibouti Hold Talks to Combat Piracy
The Commander of Pakistan-led Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) held a recent engagement via Zoom with the Commander of the Coastguard and Deputy Commander of the Djibouti Marine Nationale. Commodore Abdul Munib SI (M) of Pakistan Navy followed the current Covid-19 trend of using Zoom conference calling to discuss future collaboration and encourage counter-piracy capability development. The virtual meeting also validates that despite Covid-19 restrictions, the CTF-151 mission to engage with regional partners remains at the forefront of CMF’s operational activity. “We share a common goal – to ensure free flow of commerce,” said Cdre Munib. “At CTF-151, our measure of success is to ensure zero piracy incidents. We are already there, now we need to maintain it. Our mutual cooperation and coordination can make this happen.” He added his desire to assist Djibouti in its pathway to joining the CMF as a member nation, further enhancing cooperation between participant nations. Colonel Waiss…
CTF-151 and RBNF Hold Talks To Combat Piracy in the Region
The Commander of the Pakistan-led Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151), Commodore Abdul Munib SI (M) held a recent engagement with the Commander of the Royal Bahrain Naval Force (RBNF), Rear Admiral Mohamed Yousif Al-Asam at their headquarters. The RBNF has a long history of supporting counter-piracy and maritime security operations in the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Area of Operations. While thanking the Admiral for the two Bahraini staff officers supporting CTF-151, Cdre Munib said; “I am extremely delighted at the wonderful job your officers are doing in the CTF-151 team. This helps, not only with mutual learning, but also for capacity-building amongst member nations.” “The measure of performance at CTF-151 is to have zero incidents of piracy in the region. We are continuously working to maintain this status in the region,” added Cdre Munib. “The cooperation and support extended by RBNF has helped the CMF forces in a big way…