ISLAMABAD:
A Pakistan Navy ship seized narcotics worth more than $972 million from sailboats in the Arabian Sea, according to a statement Wednesday from the naval network overseeing the operation.
PNS Yarmook, while operating under the command of the Saudi-led Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150), successfully executed a major counter-narcotics operation in the North Arabian Sea, resulting in the seizure of narcotics valued at approximately $972 million.
The Combined Maritime Force (CMF), a naval association that includes the United States, said the Pakistani naval vessel intercepted two different dhow sailboats within 48 hours last week.
The crew seized several tons of crystal methamphetamine and a smaller amount of cocaine, according to the CMF statement.
The intercepted vessels were “identified as having no nationality,” he said, without indicating where they came from.
It was “one of the most successful narcotics seizures for the CMF,” said Royal Saudi Naval Forces Commodore Fahad Aljoiad, commander of the CMF task force that carried out the operation.
U.S. Central Command, in an X position, commended the CMF, which includes the navies of 47 countries and patrols more than 3 million square miles of sea, including some of the world’s busiest shipping routes, to disrupt drug and weapons smuggling.
Operating as part of the multinational CTF-150, which focuses on ensuring maritime stability and deterring terrorism and illegal activities on the high seas, the successful operation of PNS Yarmook reaffirms Pakistan’s active role as a responsible maritime partner contributing to peace and security in the broader Indian Ocean region, he further said.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the officers and personnel of Pakistan Navy for successfully foiling a major narcotics smuggling attempt worth billions of rupees.
In separate statements, both leaders praised the Navy’s professional excellence and its growing international recognition.
President Zardari described the operation as a matter of national pride and a shining example of the professional capabilities of the Pakistan Navy. He emphasized that Yarmook’s success reflected the Navy’s unwavering commitment to regional peace and stability.
“This important counter-narcotics action highlights Pakistan’s critical role in promoting global peace and maritime security,” the president said, calling it an excellent example of mutual cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
He also expressed special thanks to Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf and the crew of Yarmook for their exemplary performance.
The prime minister said that Pakistan Navy officers and personnel were engaged round the clock to safeguard the country’s maritime borders.
“The entire nation, including myself, is proud of the officers and sailors of the Pakistan Navy,” he added.
