The Pakistan Navy has intercepted one of the world’s largest drug hauls, seizing narcotics worth over $972 million during a maritime operation in the Arabian Sea, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
The operation was led by Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Yarmook, under the umbrella of the Saudi led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, which operates within the 47-nation Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) partnership.
According to CMF, the Navy stopped two suspicious dhows that were not using the Automatic Identification System (AIS) and were found to have no nationality.
On October 18, the first dhow was searched, resulting in the seizure of two tons of crystal meth (ICE) worth more than $822 million. Within the next 48 hours, from the second dhow, authorities recovered an additional 350 kg of ICE valued at $140 million and 50 kg of cocaine worth $10 million.
Royal Saudi Naval Forces Commander Commodore Fahad Aljoiad praised Pakistan Navy’s role, calling it one of the most successful narcotics interceptions in CMF history, crediting strong expertise and international naval cooperation for the success.
This mission was part of Operation AL MASMAK, launched on October 16, aimed at preventing non-state groups from smuggling drugs and other illegal items across the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and Gulf of Oman.
The coordinated effort involved naval assets from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, France, Spain, and the United States, showcasing the power of global maritime collaboration to protect international waters and trade routes.
