U.S. Navy in Middle East Seizes $39 Million in Drugs
MANAMA, Bahrain – A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer seized 640 kilograms of methamphetamine worth $39 million from a fishing vessel while patrolling international waters in the Gulf of Oman, May 15-16. A U.S. Coast Guard interdiction team from USS Momsen (DDG 92) discovered the illegal narcotics during a flag verification boarding in accordance with international law. The confiscated drugs and fishing vessel remain in U.S. custody. The vessel’s nine crew members identified themselves as Iranian nationals and will be transferred to a regional nation for repatriation. Momsen was operating in support of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, one of four task forces under the Combined Maritime Forces. The international naval force has increased regional patrols to locate and disrupt unlawful maritime activity. The vessel was interdicted while transiting international waters along a route historically used by criminal organizations to smuggle people, weapons, narcotics and charcoal. Crew members attempted to…
UK Frigate Seizes Illegal Heroin Shipment in Gulf of Oman
MANAMA, Bahrain – A frigate from the United Kingdom Royal Navy seized illicit narcotics from a fishing vessel while conducting patrols in international waters in the Gulf of Oman, May 5. HMS Montrose (F 236) was operating as part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, one of four task forces under Combined Maritime Forces. The international naval force has increased regional patrols to locate and disrupt unlawful maritime activity. The seizure included 95 kilograms of heroin with an estimated U.S. street value of $4 million. “This successful seizure by HMS Montrose is the testimony of vigilance and enhanced patrolling by CTF 150 units against illicit activities in the maritime domain,” said Commodore Vaqar Muhammad, commander of CTF 150. 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.
UK Warship Interdicts Illicit Drugs in Gulf of Oman
MANAMA, Bahrain – A United Kingdom Royal Navy frigate seized more than 6 tons of illicit narcotics from a fishing vessel while conducting patrols in international waters in the Gulf of Oman, March 2. HMS Montrose (F236) was operating as part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, one of three task forces under Combined Maritime Forces, a 34-nation partnership headquartered in Bahrain with U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. 5th Fleet. CTF 150 conducts regional patrols to locate and disrupt unlawful maritime activity. The seizure consisted of 6,566 kilograms of hashish, with an estimated U.S. street value of $9 million. The narcotics were confiscated and loaded aboard HMS Montrose for analysis and destruction. “This seizure of such a huge quantity of narcotics in a single boarding is highly commendable,” said Pakistan Navy Commodore Vaqar Muhammad, CTF 150’s current commander. HMS Montrose is a Duke-class frigate that has been operating…
French Warship Interdicts Illicit Drugs Shipment in Gulf of Oman
MANAMA, Bahrain – A French Marine Nationale frigate seized 271 kilograms of heroin from a fishing vessel while patrolling international waters in the Gulf of Oman, Feb.17. FS Guépratte (F714) 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. Guépratte is a La Fayette-class frigate and has been operating in the Middle East since January. 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.
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.
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…
CTF 150 Seizes Record Amount of Illegal Drugs in 2021
MANAMA, Bahrain – One of Combined Maritime Forces’ three task forces has seized a record amount of illegal drugs in 2021, which included narcotics confiscated during eight successful interdictions in the Indian Ocean last month. Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 has seized more than $189 million worth of illegal drugs (at regional wholesale prices) during counter-narcotics operations at sea in 2021. The drugs seized this year have a higher total value than the amount of drugs the task force interdicted in the previous four years combined. CTF 150 successfully seized and destroyed 6,550 kilograms of heroin, 4,052 kilograms of methamphetamine and 56,834 kilograms of hashish so far this year, equating to over three times more methamphetamine than in any other year since 2016, and the largest amount of heroin since the task force’s establishment in 2002. The multinational partnership conducts maritime security and counter-terrorism operations at sea, outside the Arabian…
French Navy Frigate Seizes Narcotics 2nd Time in Week
French Marine Nationale frigate FS Languedoc, operating in support of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), seized more than 3,600 kilograms of illegal drugs during a maritime counter-narcotics operation in the Indian Ocean, Sept. 27. This was Languedoc’s second intercept and search of a vessel suspected of smuggling in the past seven days. The most recent seizure resulted in the confiscation of hash valued at $1.86 million. Languedoc was conducting patrols in support of CMF’s New Zealand-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 when it seized the illegal drugs. “For the second time in a week, Languedoc has demonstrated expertise and professionalism in seizing a large volume of narcotics that would have otherwise been destined for market, with the funds from the sale being used to finance terrorism and criminal activity,” said Royal New Zealand Navy Capt. Brendon Clark, commander of CTF 150. On Sept. 20, Languedoc seized more than 1,525 kilograms of…
Counter-piracy task forces strengthen ties
Commander Combined Task Force (CCTF) 151, Rear Admiral (RAdm) Nam Dong Woo recently visited Commodore René Luyckx, CCTF 465, of the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) to strengthen ties.