Latest news with #EmlenTunnell
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.
Muscat Daily
11-02-2025
- Muscat Daily
Task force seizes 2,357kg of hashish off Oman coast
By OUR CORRESPONDENT Muscat – A New Zealand-led naval task force in the Middle East has made its first drug bust of the year off the coast of Oman. Working as a part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, the United States Coast Guard cutter Emlen Tunnell was last week patrolling off the coast of Oman when crew observed a suspicious dhow transiting a well-known drug smuggling route. The boarding team conducted a search of the vessel and discovered 2,357kg of hashish on board. The Royal New Zealand Navy's Commodore Rodger Ward is the Commander of CTF 150, a role he took up in January. 'Our command is a small cog in a system focused on interdicting illicit trafficking on the high seas. This is a team effort and this bust would not have been possible without the support of the 47 nations which make up the Combined Maritime Force (CMF),' Commodore Ward stated in press release issued by the New Zealand Defence Force. 'We are very pleased to have achieved our first successful bust after only a few weeks in command. Every bust we make reduces the flow of finances to terrorist organisations. This is why we're here, to contribute to maritime security,' he added.
