United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) took a chance to bring a special brand of law enforcement to Her Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Melbourne while on patrol in the Arabian Sea.
Special Agent Patrick Price, of the NCIS, was assigned to Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) and acted as a law enforcement advisor to HMAS Melbourne’s Commanding Officer. He also provided search techniques advice and support to boarding parties working on vessels suspected of narcotics smuggling.
NCIS TCU Special Agents deploy aboard coalition warships assigned to CTF 150 and provide law enforcement expertise during maritime security operations in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.
Since 2013, the TCU has deployed agents on 15 separate missions aboard warships from the United States, France, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.
HMAS Melbourne is patrolling the Middle East Region as part of Australia’s contribution to the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), which oversees the work of CTF150.
Image: Australian Navy