Pakistan Navy seizes drugs worth $972M in Arabian Sea

Pakistan Navy Ship Yarmook has seized drugs worth more than $972 million in the Arabian Sea, reported Combined Maritime Forces on Tuesday.

The seizure was supported by the Saudi-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 of CMF, during CTF 150’s Focused Operation AL MASMAK.

Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) is a 47-nation naval partnership promoting security and stability across 3.2 million square miles of water encompassing the world’s important shipping lanes.

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“The success of this focused operation highlights the importance of multi-national collaboration,” said Royal Saudi Naval Forces Commodore Fahad Aljoiad, commander of CTF 150. “Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Yarmook has had one of the most successful narcotics seizures for CMF, which is directly attributed to the expertise and collaboration of our naval forces within the organization,” he added.

PNS Yarmook intercepted two dhows that were not transmitting on Automatic Identification System (AIS), subsequently identified as having no nationality. On October 18, two tons of crystal methamphetamine (ICE) worth over $822 million were seized from the first dhow.

Subsequently, 350 kg of ICE worth $140 million and 50 kg of cocaine worth $10 million were seized from the second dhow within 48 hours of the first incident.

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 Operation AL MASMAK began on October 16 to disrupt the ability of non-state actors to move drugs and other illicit substances in the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. The Operation comes in coordination between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, France, Spain, and the United States Naval assets.