Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Yarmook, operating under the Saudi-led Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), has seized narcotics worth more than $972 million during an operation in the Arabian Sea.
According to a statement by the Combined Maritime Force (CMF), the interdictions took place during CTF-150’s Focused Operation AL MASMAK, where PNS Yarmook conducted boarding operations on two unregistered dhows that were not transmitting on the Automatic Identification System (AIS). Both vessels were later identified as stateless.
The first operation on October 18 led to the recovery of over two tonnes of crystal methamphetamine (ICE) valued at $822.4 million. Within 48 hours, a second dhow was boarded, yielding 350 kilograms of crystal meth worth $140 million and 50 kilograms of cocaine valued at $10 million.
The seized narcotics were transported to the ship for testing and later disposed of in accordance with international protocols.
“The success of this focused operation highlights the importance of multinational collaboration,” said Royal Saudi Naval Forces Commodore Fahad Aljoiad, Commander of CTF-150. “PNS Yarmook has had one of the most successful narcotics seizures for CMF, which is directly attributed to the expertise and cooperation among our naval forces.”
Operation AL MASMAK began on October 16 and brought together naval assets from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, France, Spain, and the United States to strengthen regional maritime security and deter illicit trafficking.
CTF-150’s mission focuses on disrupting non-state actors engaged in the movement of narcotics, weapons, and contraband across the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and Gulf of Oman. The Combined Maritime Forces, a 47-nation naval partnership, operates across 3.2 million square miles of water, safeguarding major global shipping routes and upholding the international maritime order.
