Pakistani naval forces seize nearly $1 billion drugs during Arabian Sea operations
. . . one of the most successful drug seizures ever carried out by the coalition
The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) announced on Tuesday that a Pakistani naval vessel operating in the Arabian Sea seized narcotics valued at more than $972 million, marking one of the largest drug interceptions in the coalition’s history.
The CMF — a multinational coalition of 47 countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United States, France, and Spain — said that Pakistani Navy personnel boarded two separate dhows in a series of successful operations.
According to the CMF statement, the first vessel was intercepted on Saturday, where naval personnel seized over two tons of crystal methamphetamine valued at $822.4 million, according to news reports.
Less than 48 hours later, a second dhow was boarded, resulting in the confiscation of 350 kilograms of methamphetamine worth $140 million and 50 kilograms of cocaine valued at $10 million.
Commodore Fahad Al-Juwaid, Commander of Combined Task Force 150, which led the operation, described it as “one of the most successful drug seizures” ever carried out by the coalition.
The Saudi-led Task Force 150, headquartered in Bahrain, operates under the CMF and focuses on combating illicit trade and maritime smuggling across the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean, and the Horn of Africa — key routes frequently exploited by international drug trafficking networks.
