New Zealand Navy ends Arabian Gulf mission with $15M drug bust

Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) has completed the Arabian Gulf mission with a seizure of more than one tonne of drugs from a vessel in the Gulf of Oman.

Over the six-month RNZN Command of Combined Task Force 150 (CTF150), 14 suspect vessels were identified and intercepted with a total New Zealand street value of $NZ3.05 billion of drugs seized and destroyed.   

CTF150 is part of a 34 nation coalition responsible for conducting maritime security operations outside the Arabian Gulf to ensure that legitimate shipping can occur freely. Its mission is to disrupt illicit activity such as the movement of people, weapons and narcotics. 

“The interception and seizure last week by Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose included 663kg of heroin, 87kg of methamphetamine and 291kg of hashish, with a regional wholesale value of $US9.85 million ($NZ14.7m). It was analysed and destroyed, denying funding for terrorist and criminal organisations” said Captain  Brendon Clark, Commander of CTF150.

“Street value varies around the world; but from a New Zealand perspective, this shipment was worth $NZ685.9m, showing the profit margins that can be made by those groups involved in supply. Disrupting this supply of narcotics is one of the key outcomes of the mission.”

New Zealand took over command of CTF 150 from the Royal Canadian Navy in July 2021 and has now handed over responsibility to the Pakistan Navy.