VIDEO: Australian, New Zealand Navies Seize Drugs

June 16, 2015

Maritime security operations by Australian and New Zealand frigates operating in the Middle East region during the past six weeks have seized almost a tonne of narcotics worth an estimated street value of $811 million.

Royal Australian Navy Guided Missile Frigate, HMAS Newcastle netted 724kg of narcotics worth an estimated $597 million.

During the same operation, New Zealand ship HMNZS Te Kaha seized 257kg of narcotics worth an estimated $214 million.

HMAS Newcastle has been working closely with other CMF ships including the Royal Navy frigate HMS Richmond and French National Navy command and replenishment ship French Ship Var.

The combined counter-terrorism and counter-narcotic maritime operation was conducted from 29 April to 15 June 2015.

HMAS Newcastle is currently deployed to the Middle East region as part of Australian Defence Force’s Operation MANITOU and represents the 60th rotation of a RAN vessel to the Middle East region since the first Gulf War in 1990.