Latest news with #Wildcat
South Wales Guardian
2 days ago
- South Wales Guardian
Royal Navy warship seizes £30m of drugs in Middle East
HMS Lancaster deployed its Wildcat helicopter to oversee the operation involving a boarding team from 42 Commando which seized 80 packages of narcotics. A Royal Navy spokesman said the haul was made up of 1,000kg of heroin, 660kg of hashish, and 6kg of amphetamine, worth an estimated £30 million on UK streets. He said: 'It's the second bust in three months for the British warship, which is based in Bahrain and is attached to a New Zealand-led international task spread across the Indian Ocean hunting down illegal activity. 'And it's the second time the Royal Navy's new Peregrine drones – mini-helicopters which conduct reconnaissance sorties for hours on end and feed live information back to Lancaster's operations room – have played a vital part in the success.' Lancaster's commanding officer, Commander Chris Chew, said: 'This is another example of where Lancaster has delivered at range, in isolation, utilising her own organic assets. 'Whether they come in the form of her Wildcat, our uncrewed air system Peregrine, embarked intelligence team or her Royal Marine boarding team, they delivered on operations in support of the Combined Maritime Forces and New Zealand-led Combined Task Force 150.' Armed forces minister Luke Pollard said: 'I congratulate the crew of HMS Lancaster on this significant seizure, which is keeping dangerous and illegal drugs off our streets. 'This operation highlights the unique role our Royal Navy contributes, working to disrupt criminal operations around the world, keeping us secure at home and strong abroad.'
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Elite Royal Marines pose with £30m worth of seized illegal drugs after storming smuggler's dhow
ELITE Royal Marines stormed a smuggler's dhow and seized £30 million worth of drugs, it has been revealed. Commandos boarded the vessel under the gaze of a 2 Elite Royal Marines stormed a smuggler's dhow and seized £30 million worth of drugs, it has been revealed 2 Commandos boarded the vessel under the gaze of a Royal Marine sniper who circled overhead in a Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter The troops found 80 bags of illegal drugs including a tonne of heroin. The Navy said: 'The haul came to 1,000kg heroin, 660kg hashish, and 6kg of amphetamine – worth an estimated £30m on UK streets.' The crew of the frigate The warship remained hidden beyond the horizon for over 24 hours before closing in on the dhow and scrambling its boarding teams in fast attack boats and launching the Wildcat helicopter. Read More on UK News The Navy said it 'pounced on a drug runner in the Middle East' during the daring High Seas mission. It said: 'After secretly shadowing the suspect through the Arabian Sea for more than 24 hours, frigate HMS Lancaster struck by sea and air to bring the dhow's voyage to a halt. 'Under the watchful gaze of a Royal Marines sniper circling overhead in the frigate's Wildcat helicopter, the boarding team of 42 Commando closed on the vessel in a pincer movement.' Commander Chris Chew, the ship's captain, said: 'This is another example of where Lancaster has delivered at range, in isolation, utilising her own organic assets.' Most read in The Sun Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard hailed the 200 strong crew for a 'significant seizure, which is keeping dangerous and illegal drugs off our streets'. Oliver Harvey investigates the use of a drug smuggling submarine's journey from South America to Spain The warship was serving as part of a taskforce led by New Zealand's Navy to 'disrupt criminal and terrorist organizations' by seizing drugs, guns and illicit goods at sea. Commodore Rodger Ward, the Kiwi commander, hailed the 'tenacity, training and professionalism' of the Royal Navy.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Elite Royal Marines pose with £30m worth of seized illegal drugs after storming smuggler's dhow
The troops found 80 bags of illegal drugs including a tonne of heroin 'SIGNIFICANT SEIZURE' Elite Royal Marines pose with £30m worth of seized illegal drugs after storming smuggler's dhow ELITE Royal Marines stormed a smuggler's dhow and seized £30 million worth of drugs, it has been revealed. Commandos boarded the vessel under the gaze of a Royal Marine sniper who circled overhead in a Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter. Advertisement 2 Elite Royal Marines stormed a smuggler's dhow and seized £30 million worth of drugs, it has been revealed 2 Commandos boarded the vessel under the gaze of a Royal Marine sniper who circled overhead in a Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter The troops found 80 bags of illegal drugs including a tonne of heroin. The Navy said: 'The haul came to 1,000kg heroin, 660kg hashish, and 6kg of amphetamine – worth an estimated £30m on UK streets.' The crew of the frigate HMS Lancaster had tracked the dhow with Peregrine spy drones – mini helicopters – as it crossed the Arabian Gulf towards Africa. The warship remained hidden beyond the horizon for over 24 hours before closing in on the dhow and scrambling its boarding teams in fast attack boats and launching the Wildcat helicopter. Advertisement The Navy said it 'pounced on a drug runner in the Middle East' during the daring High Seas mission. It said: 'After secretly shadowing the suspect through the Arabian Sea for more than 24 hours, frigate HMS Lancaster struck by sea and air to bring the dhow's voyage to a halt. 'Under the watchful gaze of a Royal Marines sniper circling overhead in the frigate's Wildcat helicopter, the boarding team of 42 Commando closed on the vessel in a pincer movement.' Commander Chris Chew, the ship's captain, said: 'This is another example of where Lancaster has delivered at range, in isolation, utilising her own organic assets.' Advertisement Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard hailed the 200 strong crew for a 'significant seizure, which is keeping dangerous and illegal drugs off our streets'. Oliver Harvey investigates the use of a drug smuggling submarine's journey from South America to Spain The warship was serving as part of a taskforce led by New Zealand's Navy to 'disrupt criminal and terrorist organizations' by seizing drugs, guns and illicit goods at sea. Commodore Rodger Ward, the Kiwi commander, hailed the 'tenacity, training and professionalism' of the Royal Navy. Opium poppies are farmed in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan processed into heroin and shipped across the Arabian Gulf for transit into Europe.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
£30m worth of drugs seized by Royal Navy in Middle East operation
A Royal Navy frigate seized drugs worth £30 million in a significant operation in the Middle East. HMS Lancaster stalked a drug-runner's boat in the Arabian Sea for more than 24 hours after the illegal operations were spotted by the warship's drones. It deployed its Wildcat helicopter to oversee the operation involving a boarding team from 42 Commando which seized 80 packages of narcotics. A Royal Navy spokesman said the haul was made up of 1,000kg of heroin, 660kg of hashish and 6kg of amphetamine, worth an estimated £30 million on UK streets. He said: 'It's the second bust in three months for the British warship, which is based in Bahrain and is attached to a New Zealand-led international task force spread across the Indian Ocean hunting down illegal activity. 'And it's the second time the Royal Navy's new Peregrine drones – mini-helicopters that conduct reconnaissance sorties for hours on end and feed live information back to Lancaster's operations room – have played a vital part in the success.' Chris Chew, Lancaster's commanding officer, said: 'This is another example of where Lancaster has delivered at range, in isolation, utilising her own organic assets. 'Whether they come in the form of her Wildcat, our uncrewed air system Peregrine, embarked intelligence team or her Royal Marine boarding team, they delivered on operations in support of the Combined Maritime Forces and New Zealand-led Combined Task Force 150.' Luke Pollard, the Armed Forces minister, said: 'I congratulate the crew of HMS Lancaster on this significant seizure, which is keeping dangerous and illegal drugs off our streets. 'This operation highlights the unique role our Royal Navy contributes, working to disrupt criminal operations around the world, keeping us secure at home and strong abroad.' In March, the Royal Navy used drones for the first time in a drug bust when HMS Lancaster intercepted smugglers in the Indian Ocean who were trying to move 3.7 tons of heroin, hashish and crystal meth. Royal Marines on board HMS Lancaster located the drug smugglers after Peregrine remote-controlled mini-helicopters were launched from the flight deck. The drones are so-called because they aim to mimic the tactics of peregrine falcons, which scan for their prey at altitude. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
North Wales Chronicle
3 days ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Royal Navy warship seizes £30m of drugs in Middle East
HMS Lancaster deployed its Wildcat helicopter to oversee the operation involving a boarding team from 42 Commando which seized 80 packages of narcotics. A Royal Navy spokesman said the haul was made up of 1,000kg of heroin, 660kg of hashish, and 6kg of amphetamine, worth an estimated £30 million on UK streets. He said: 'It's the second bust in three months for the British warship, which is based in Bahrain and is attached to a New Zealand-led international task spread across the Indian Ocean hunting down illegal activity. 'And it's the second time the Royal Navy's new Peregrine drones – mini-helicopters which conduct reconnaissance sorties for hours on end and feed live information back to Lancaster's operations room – have played a vital part in the success.' Lancaster's commanding officer, Commander Chris Chew, said: 'This is another example of where Lancaster has delivered at range, in isolation, utilising her own organic assets. 'Whether they come in the form of her Wildcat, our uncrewed air system Peregrine, embarked intelligence team or her Royal Marine boarding team, they delivered on operations in support of the Combined Maritime Forces and New Zealand-led Combined Task Force 150.' Armed forces minister Luke Pollard said: 'I congratulate the crew of HMS Lancaster on this significant seizure, which is keeping dangerous and illegal drugs off our streets. 'This operation highlights the unique role our Royal Navy contributes, working to disrupt criminal operations around the world, keeping us secure at home and strong abroad.'
