Published on 02/17/2021 – Last Updated on 02/17/2021 by OTC
The Royal Navy has intercepted over 5300 lbs (2400 kg) of illicit drugs in the Arabian Sea.
The boarding team from HMS Montrose, operating under the command of CMF Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) found the drugs โ with a combined estimated wholesale value of over $15 million (ยฃ10.9m) โ following searches of suspicious vessels whilst undertaking a counter-narcotics patrol.
After taking command of the Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) in late January 2021, The Royal Canadian Navy has already overseen multiple significant successful interdictions, of which these two are the latest.
The last one was, USS Philippine Sea (CG 58)โs interdiction a shipment of more than 600 lbs. (275 kg) of suspected narcotics from a dhow in the international waters of the North Arabian Sea, Jan. 30.
CTF 150
Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) is one of three task forces operated by Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). CTF150 conducts Maritime Security Operations (MSO) outside the Persian Gulf to ensure that legitimate commercial shipping can transit the region, free from non-state threats.
CTF 150โs mission is to disrupt criminal and terrorist organisations and their mandated related illicit activities by restricting their freedom of manoeuvre in the maritime domain. CTF150โs activities deny criminal and terrorist organisations a risk-free method of conducting operations or moving personnel, weapons or income-generating narcotics and charcoal.
โAs Commander of Combined Task Force 150, my team is resolute in our objective to promote security, stability and prosperity in an area which comprises some of the worldโs most important shipping routes,โ said Commodore Dan Charlebois, Commander of CTF-150.
โThis interdiction was a direct result of the collaborative effort between Task Force staff and HMS Montrose, to whose crew I send my personal thanks for their skill, determination and professionalism in a challenging environment. I look forward to future successes as we continue to work together as close partners towards our common goals.โ
HMS Montrose
HMS Montrose is the Royal Navyโs Forward Deployed Frigate and has been in the region since early 2019. The UK actively supports several operations and multi-national task forces in the Middle East in order to protect international and British interests.
![HMS Montrose seizes over $15 Million Worth of Narcotics 8 HMS Montrose at sea in the Gulf - Naval Post](https://navalpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/HMS-Montrose-at-sea-in-the-Gulf-1024x590.jpg)
HMSย Montroseย is the eighth of the sixteen-shipย Type 23ย or Duke class ofย frigates, of theย Royal Navy, named after theย Duke of Montrose. She was laid down in November 1989 byย Yarrow Shipbuildersย on theย Clyde and was launched on 31 July 1992. She was commissioned into service in June 1994.
![HMS Montrose seizes over $15 Million Worth of Narcotics 9 HMS Montrose Drug Interdiction Helo Platform - Naval Post](https://navalpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/HMS-Montrose-Drug-Interdiction-Helo-Platform-1024x683.jpg)
Check out Naval Library App to find out the specifications of Type 23 Class Frigates.
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