A Pakistani Navy ship seized narcotics valued at over $972 million from sailboats in the Arabian Sea, according to a statement released Tuesday by the naval network overseeing the operation. The Combined Maritime Force (CMF), a multinational naval partnership that includes the United States, stated that the Pakistani naval vessel intercepted two separate dhow sailing boats within a span of 48 hours last week. The crew recovered several tons of crystal methamphetamine and a smaller quantity of cocaine, the CMF statement added. The intercepted vessels were “identified as having no nationality,” with no information provided about their origin. Royal Saudi Naval Forces Commodore Fahad Aljoiad, commander of the CMF task force involved in the operation, described it as “one of the most successful narcotics seizures for CMF.” The US Central Command also congratulated the CMF in a post on X, noting that the partnership, which includes navies from 47 countries and patrols over 3 million square miles of sea, works to disrupt smuggling of drugs and weapons along some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. According to US CENTCOM, the PNS YARMOOK carried out boarding operations of two dhows. Neither vessel was transmitting on the Automatic Identification System (AIS) or displaying any markings, and both were later confirmed to have no nationality. On October 18, the crew boarded the first dhow and seized over two tons of crystal methamphetamine (ICE), with an estimated street value of $822.4 million. Less than 48 hours later, they boarded the second dhow, confiscating 350 kg of ICE worth $140 million and 50 kg of cocaine worth $10 million. The confiscated narcotics were transported back to the ship for testing and verification, and subsequently destroyed. The CMF, a coalition of 47 nations, enforces international maritime law and promotes security and stability across 3.2 million square miles of ocean, including some of the world’s most critical shipping lanes. Meanwhile, focused Operation AL MASMAK began October 16 and has successfully demonstrated a coordinated multinational approach to enhancing regional security and maritime safety, with Saudi Arabia coordinating Pakistan, French, Spanish and US naval assets. CTF 150’s mission is to deter and disrupt the ability of non-state actors to move weapons, drugs and other illicit substances in the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman.
‘Op Al Masmak’: Pakistan Navy Seizes Nearly $1 Billion Worth of Drugs in Arabian Sea
