Coalition Navy Ships Seize 23 Tons of Drugs in Gulf Region's "Hash Highway"

Courtesy Photo | A boarding team from HMS Chatham boards a vessel in the Arabian Gulf, July 10. Coalition assets including Chatham recently seized 23 tonnes of narcotics. Seizures by coalition naval forces over the past five months have totaled more than 30 tonnes. Combined Maritime Forces in the region are focused on reassuring regional partners of the coalitions' commitment to security, which promotes stability and global prosperity.  

07.15.2008

Courtesy Story

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet           

By U.S. Naval Forces Central Command

MANAMA, Bahrain - Royal navy warships operating in the Gulf region as part of the Combined Maritime Forces have seized 23 tons of narcotics which could have helped to fund the insurgency fighting coalition forces in Afghanistan.

Seizures by coalition naval forces over the past five months can now be revealed – and total 30 tonnes, over 70 percent of which (23 tons) was down to Royal navy interceptions.

British warships involved were frigates HMS Chatham and HMS Montrose and destroyer HMS Edinburgh. They were supported by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary helicopter support ship Argus and her embarked Sea King aircraft.

Sailors and royal marines from the ships discovered hidden drugs in vessels along the so-called 'Hash Highway', and often operated in the most unpleasant conditions. The narcotics they seized included hashish, opiates, cocaine and amphetamines.

Speaking from the CMF headquarters in Bahrain, the Commander of royal navy forces in the region, Commodore Keith Winstanley said the trafficking of illegal drugs is a serious problem.

"The scourge of illegal drugs are one of the gravest threats to the long term security of Afghanistan, and a vital source of funding for the Taliban warlords who seek violence against Afghan, coalition and NATO forces," he said. "Our mission in Afghanistan is one of absolute importance, and by seizing these drugs we have dealt a significant blow to the illegal trade. News of these successes has been kept quiet for operational reasons, but I am delighted that the tremendous efforts can now be recognized."

Winstanley stressed the coalition aspect of the counter-drugs operations, pointing out that tactical command at sea had been under the auspices of Pakistani, French and Canadian Task Force Commanders.

"This is a really positive result for Chatham, but is in fact routine business for us," said Chatham's Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Martin Connell said. "We managed to locate the vessel and then conduct a very unpleasant boarding in demanding conditions. My sailors and marines did an outstanding job in managing to locate six tons of illegal narcotics plus other significant intelligence."

By some estimates hashish accounts for half the profits from the drug trade in the region. The United Nations World Drug Report estimates that drug addiction rates have almost tripled in the Arab world.

• Date Taken: 07.15.2008
• Date Posted: 07.15.2008 12:09
• Story ID: 21503