Latest news with #CTF150
RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
New Zealand-led taskforce seizes $1b worth of drugs in Arabian sea
Photo: Kipion A New Zealand-led naval task force has made its highest value drug bust of the year, seizing $1 billion worth of drugs in the Middle East. Among the seized drugs were one tonne of heroin, 660 kilograms of hashish and 6kg of amphetamine. British Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster last week identified a suspicious sailing ship in the North Arabian Sea as part of its operations in the Combined Maritime Task Force 150 (CTF 150). The New Zealand Defence Force said Royal Marines boarded the dhow while a Wildcat helicopter with a Royal Marine sniper team covered them. Once the six crew were secured, the marines found 50 packages containing 1000 kilograms of heroin, 55 packages containing 660 kilograms of hashish and 6 kilograms of amphetamine tablets. The drugs were taken back to the ship for testing and disposal. Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster, part of New Zealand-led CTF 150, has seized NZ$1 billion worth of illegal drugs in the Arabian Sea. Photo: NZDF Lancaster Commanding Officer, Commander Chris Chew, praised his crew's motivation, commitment and dedication. "This is another example of where Lancaster has delivered at range, in isolation, utilising her own organic assets," he said. CTF 150's commander, Royal New Zealand Navy Commodore Rodger Ward said it was the highest value narcotics interception made since New Zealand took command of CTF 150 this year. "Conducting maritime interdictions requires a team effort from the men and women here in the headquarters in Bahrain reaching through to those out on the oceans disrupting drug smuggling operations at the coal face," he said. "I'd like to acknowledge the 210-strong ship's company from Lancaster for continuing to get amongst it day-after-day. "Everyone in the team can be proud of their efforts to disrupt the criminal and terrorist organisations that continue to use illicit narcotics to fund their activities and this is a significant blow to their revenue stream." Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster, part of New Zealand-led CTF 150, has seized NZ$1 billion worth of illegal drugs in the Arabian Sea. Photo: NZDF CTF 150 was one of five operational task forces under the Combined Maritime Forces based in Bahrain and focussed on maritime security in the Middle East, particularly disrupting drug smuggling. Collectively CTF 150 and its partners had now seized narcotics worth $1.8 billion, Ward said. "Furthermore, we estimate that our presence and the intelligence collected from our operations has resulted in the disruption of nearly three times that amount," he said. Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Kaha was also deployed to CTF 150 over the past two months, conducting similar operations as Lancaster . Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Scoop
New Zealand-led Task Force, With Royal Navy, Seizes NZ$1b Worth Of Drugs In Arabian Sea
The New Zealand-led Combined Maritime Task Force 150 (CTF 150) has made its highest value drug bust of the year, seizing 1000kg of heroin, 660kg hashish and 6kg of amphetamine (with a street value of NZ$1 billion) in the Middle East. Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster was patrolling in the North Arabian Sea late last week, when crew identified and tracked a small cargo dhow acting in a suspicious manner. After observing the dhow using a Peregrine uncrewed aerial system, Royal Marine boarding teams boarded the vessel while a Wildcat helicopter with a Royal Marine sniper team covered them. Once the six crew were secured, the boarding team found 50 packages containing 1000kg of heroin, 55 packages containing 660kg of hashish and 6kg of amphetamine tablets. The drugs were taken back to the ship for testing and disposal. Lancaster Commanding Officer, Commander Chris Chew, says the ship's latest success was the result of his crew's motivation, commitment and dedication. 'This is another example of where Lancaster has delivered at range, in isolation, utilising her own organic assets,' he said. Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) Commodore Rodger Ward is Commander of CTF 150. 'This is the largest value narcotics interdiction we've made under our New Zealand command this year,' he said. 'Conducting maritime interdictions requires a team effort from the men and women here in the headquarters in Bahrain reaching through to those out on the oceans disrupting drug smuggling operations at the coal face. 'I'd like to acknowledge the 210-strong ship's company from Lancaster for continuing to get amongst it day-after-day. 'Everyone in the team can be proud of their efforts to disrupt the criminal and terrorist organisations that continue to use illicit narcotics to fund their activities and this is a significant blow to their revenue stream.' The seizure was testament to the tenacity, training and professionalism from CTF 150's Royal Navy partners, he said. CTF 150 is one of five operational task forces under the Combined Maritime Forces based in Bahrain and is focussed on maritime security in the Middle East, in particular the disruption of drug smuggling operations. Collectively CTF 150 and partners have now seized narcotics with a New Zealand street value of $NZ1.8b, Commodore Ward said. 'Furthermore we estimate that our presence and the intelligence collected from our operations has resulted in the disruption of nearly three times that amount.' RNZN frigate HMNZS Te Kaha was also deployed to CTF 150 over the last two months, conducting similar operations as Lancaster as part of New Zealand's commitment to collective security efforts in the Middle East.
Khabar Agency
12-02-2025
- Khabar Agency
CMF intercepts nearly 2,400 kilograms of illegal drugs from a vessel in the Arabian Sea
MANAMA, Bahrain — A U.S. Coast Guard fast-response cutter, operating in direct support of the New Zealand-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), intercepted nearly 2,400 kilograms of illegal drugs from a vessel in the Arabian Sea on February 7. 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.
