CMF intercepts nearly 2,400 kilograms of illegal drugs from a vessel in the Arabian Sea
The operation, carried out by the Sentinel-class fast-response cutter USCGC Emlen Tunnell (WPC-1145), marks CTF 150's first drug seizure since New Zealand assumed command on January 15.
During the interdiction, the cutter's boarding team discovered and confiscated 2,357 kilograms of hashish from the vessel. After documenting and weighing the haul, the crew disposed of the narcotics in accordance with established protocols.
Commodore Rodger Ward, commander of CTF 150, praised the collaborative effort that led to the successful operation, achieved just weeks after New Zealand took command.
'Our command is a small but vital part of a broader system dedicated to disrupting illicit trafficking on the high seas,' Ward said. 'This success is a testament to the teamwork and support of the 46 nations that comprise the Combined Maritime Forces.'
Ward emphasized the broader impact of such operations, stating, 'Every interdiction we carry out disrupts the flow of funds to terrorist organizations. This is why we are here—to contribute to maritime security and uphold the rules-based international order.'
The USCGC Emlen Tunnell is forward-deployed to Bahrain and operates as part of Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA), a U.S. Coast Guard contingent that works alongside U.S. and regional naval forces across the Middle East.
CTF 150 is one of five task forces under the Combined Maritime Forces, the world's largest international naval partnership. Its mission focuses on deterring and disrupting the movement of weapons, drugs, and other illicit substances by non-state actors in the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Oman.
The Combined Maritime Forces, a 46-nation coalition, is committed to maintaining the international rules-based order by ensuring security and stability across 3.2 million square miles of water, including some of the world's most critical shipping lanes.
This successful interdiction underscores the importance of international cooperation in combating maritime threats and safeguarding global security.
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