Navy makes massive meth bust at sea

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Navy ship TABUK carried out a major counter-narcotics operation, seizing over 2,000 kilogrammes of methamphetamine (ICE) from a stateless dhow in the Arabian Sea, according to a statement from the Director General of Public Relations (Navy) on Wednesday.

The statement said PNS TABUK was operating on a Regional Maritime Security Patrol (RMSP) in support of the Saudi-led Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) under Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). This operation marks the "third consecutive successful interdiction" by Pakistan Navy ships in the past two months.

The intercepted dhow was deemed suspicious, and the haul of ICE has an estimated regional wholesale value of $130 million, the news release stated.

"These successful operations demonstrate the Pakistan Navy's enduring resolve and unwavering commitment against illicit trafficking at sea. The scale of the operation, coupled with its flawless execution, underscores not only the Navy's professionalism but also the effectiveness of multinational coordination under CMF," the statement said.

The statement added that the Pakistan Navy remains committed to safeguarding national maritime interests, upholding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and contributing to global maritime security.

(With input from APP)