RIYADH: During an intercept and search operation targeting a boat in the Gulf of Oman, CTF 150, a combined task force currently led by the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, seized 3,330 kilograms of hashish and heroin.
The task force, established in 2002, is one of four operating as part of the Combined Maritime Forces in Bahrain, which is led by the US Fifth Fleet. It is the world’s largest international maritime partnership.
The task force’s mission is to conduct maritime security operations in the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Gulf of Aden in order to combat terrorism and related activities such as people, drugs, weapons, and coal smuggling.
In July 2018, the Royal Saudi Naval Forces took command of CTF 150 for the first time, succeeding the British Royal Navy and leading a number of operations.
In August 2020, it took command for the second time, this time from French naval forces, and led six operations. The first, which occurred in October 2020, resulted in the seizure of over 450 kg of methamphetamine. The following month, 456 kilograms of methamphetamine and 364 kilograms of heroin were seized.
In December 2020, two more operations took place. The first seized 910 kg of hashish in international waters in the Arabian Sea, and the second 182 kg of methamphetamine and 272 kg of heroin.
Source: Arab News
