Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The Combined Maritime Forces (currently led by Saudi Arabia) announced the seizure of a new drug shipment aboard an unidentified dhow in the Arabian Sea, south of Yemen. The shipment is valued at over $130 million, marking the third such operation in less than a month.
In a statement, the Combined Forces reported that the Pakistani naval ship “Tabuk,” operating as part of Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150), intercepted the vessel during a routine patrol approximately 100 nautical miles east of Oman. Upon boarding and inspecting the vessel, the crew discovered more than two tons of Crystal Methamphetamine (ICE).
The Commander of CTF 150, Saudi Commodore Fahd Al-Juaid, affirmed that this operation reflects the vital role of multinational naval cooperation in combating the smuggling of drugs and weapons.
It is noteworthy that CTF 150 previously seized two large drug shipments last October valued at over $972 million. These operations are part of efforts to prevent the transport of illicit materials in the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, within the framework of the world’s largest maritime partnership, comprising 47 nations.
