HMAS Warramunga seizes eight tonnes of illicit drugs

Image: LSIS Tom Gibson
Image: LSIS Tom Gibson

The crew of Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Warramunga has intercepted two vessels and seized eight tonnes of hashish valued at AU$400 million (US$312 million) in international waters of the Arabian Sea.

On March 3 Warramunga’s Seahawk helicopter crew detected a vessel of interest during surveillance operations. A boarding party searched the vessel and uncovered 4.1 tonnes of illicit cargo.

The Seahawk crew then detected a second vessel of interest and the subsequent boarding and search operation resulted in the seizure of an additional 3.9 tonnes of illegal narcotics.

The narcotics were transferred to Warramunga and will be disposed of at sea.

Since deploying to the Middle East in November, Warramunga has seized 19.5 tonnes of hashish and 1.5 tonnes of heroin, valued at more than AU$1.43 billion.

Combined Taskforce 150 is one of three task forces operating under Combined Maritime Forces. Australia assumed command of Combined Task Force 150 in December.


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