32 Nations meet at the 32nd SHADE Conference
The SHared Awareness and DEconfliction (SHADE) conference convened for its 32nd sitting in Manama, Bahrain on 4 June.
Hosted in Bahrain by the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), NATO and the European Naval Force (EUNAVFOR), the counter piracy conference brings together countries that have a shipping interest in the Gulf of Aden, off the Horn of Africa and in the western Indian Ocean. In all, 140 delegates from 32 nations attended representing law enforcement agencies, the shipping industry, other government departments, the military and the fishing industry.
HMAS Darwin continues to challenge drug smugglers
HMAS Darwin intercepted a suspected drug smuggling dhow in international waters on 19 May 2014, seizing 786 kilograms of hashish. HMAS Darwin is currently deployed on patrol under tasking to the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) as part of the UK led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150.
“Yemen key to CMF future success”: CMF Commanders welcome representatives from 30th member to HQ
Following Yemen’s official acceptance of membership to the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) in December 2013, the Commander and Deputy Commander of CMF welcomed senior naval representatives from Yemen to CMF’s headquarters in Bahrain, on the occasion of their inaugural visit.
HMCS Toronto intercepts narcotics at sea
Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Toronto, deployed under the French command of CTF 150, successfully disrupted 239 kilos of hashish and 10 kilos of heroin in the Red Sea as part of ongoing counter terrorism operations in the Indian Ocean area. Between April 2013 and the end of June, HMCS Toronto has successfully completed six drug interdictions, recovering over 1.3 tonnes of heroin and around six tonnes of hashish, whilst conducting counter terrorism and counter narcotics operations as part of Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150). <!–more–> “HMCS Toronto’s workclearly demonstrates the international community’s intolerance for misuse of international waters,” said Lieutenant-General Stuart Beare, Commander of Canadian Joint Operations Command. “I am proud to see our ship and its crew continue to work with our partners and allies to deter and protect against terrorist activity at sea in the greater Middle East region” The Halifax-class frigate is working with CMF…
Combined Maritime Forces Warship makes third drugs bust in six weeks
A warship attached to the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) has made another major drugs bust seizing 194kgs of heroin.
On May 10, HMCS Toronto successfully disrupted her third narcotics shipment in six weeks, and second this week, as part of ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the Indian Ocean.
During the search and inspection of a vessel by the ship’s naval boarding team, HMCS Toronto’s crew recovered 194 kilograms of heroin. The narcotics were recovered without incident and destroyed. In the last 6 weeks, HMCS Toronto has interdicted more than a ton of narcotics. On March 29, a massive narcotics shipment in the Indian Ocean was disrupted when her naval boarding team recovered approximately 500 kilograms of heroin. Earlier this week, her crew recovered another 317 kilograms of heroin, and a small amount of hashish.
