HMS Montrose Seizes Over $15 Million Worth of Narcotics in Arabian Sea
The Royal Navy has intercepted over 5300 lbs (2400 kg) of illicit drugs as a result of back-to-back successful interdictions in the Arabian Sea. The boarding team from HMS Montrose, operating under the command of CMF Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) found the drugs – with a combined estimated wholesale value of over $15 million (£10.9m) – following searches of suspicious vessels whilst undertaking a counter-narcotics patrol. In the most recent operation, which lasted over ten hours, over 4700 lbs (2145 kg) of hashish, heroin, and methamphetamine were seized. This came just two days after a separate bust in which 606 lbs (275 kg) of heroin was seized in the same area. Commander Ollie Hucker, HMS Montrose Commanding Officer said; “These interdictions have prevented significant amounts of illicit substances being sold on the streets, whilst denying criminal groups an income source often associated with the funding of terrorism.” CTF-150 operates…
Change in Deputy Command of the Combined Maritime Forces
Deputy Command of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) has been formally handed-over by Commodore Dean Bassett to his successor Commodore Ed Ahlgren OBE, in a short ceremony at CMF headquarters in Bahrain, Feb. 10. Commodore Bassett has served as Deputy Commander since June 2019. During his time in Bahrain, he has seen multiple successive anti-narcotics operations, keeping hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of illegal contraband off the streets and disrupting terrorist groups’ financing. Counter-piracy efforts in the CMF Area of Operations continue to provide vital security and reassurance to merchant shipping, and capacity-building efforts in the region continue to thrive. Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Cdre Bassett said; “Our nations have nurtured a shared vision of maritime security, and one of the biggest successes has been learning from each other. Together, we have kept significant amounts of harmful narcotics off the streets, disrupting terrorist groups’ financing and we’ve continued…
DCCMF meets CMF Reservists from five countries
Deputy Commander Combined Maritime Forces (DCCMF) Commodore (Cdre) William Warrender of the Royal Navy has met with Reservists under his command from five different countries.
SKASaC: Middle East Deployment 2016
To see the video go to the CMF Facebook page or CMF Twitter…..
CMF Chief ACE visits Djibouti
Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Chief Air Coordination Element (ACE) recently visited Djibouti to witness Japanese and Spanish Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) operations.
CTF 150 Facts and Figures
The Pakistan Navy has now taken over CTF 150 and after a busy four months the Royal Navy contingent has headed home…. Here’s what they achieved……
The UK Royal Navy handover to the Pakistan Navy at CTF 150 Change of Command Ceremony
The Pakistan Navy has taken command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) after conducting a handover ceremony with the Royal Navy. CTF 150’s principal mission is to disrupt terrorist organisations and their unlawful activities by restricting freedom of manoeuvre in the maritime domain.
Senior British military figure visits CMF HQ
The most senior British military officer visited Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) headquarters in Bahrain this month.