Type 23 Frigate HMS Montrose delivered her fifth blow to drug runners in the Middle East this year, say the Royal Navy.
Her team of sailors and Royal Marines seized around 870kg of crystal methamphetamine from a dhow in the Arabian Sea during a six-hour operation.
“The haul was brought back to the frigate for inspection and weighing. The drugs totalled 870kg when counted, worth around £15.5m wholesale value in the UK according to the National Crime Agency.
It’s the fifth drugs interdiction of the year by the ship while operating under the international Combined Task Force 150 and means Montrose has prevented nearly £47m illegal narcotics reaching the streets in 2022, denying the proceeds to criminals or terrorists.
The frigate, which has been deployed to the Middle East since the beginning of 2019, also seized two illegal arms shipments earlier this year – all of which underscores the importance of maintaining a major Royal Navy warship in the region on a long-term mission.”
Commander Claire Thompson, the frigate’s Commanding Officer, was quoted as saying:
“This success proves we will persistently deny criminals the freedom to conduct their illegal activity on the High Seas. Disrupting terrorist organisations, criminals and their funding lines is key to keeping to UK, and rest of the world, safe. It is a privilege to command HMS Montrose and the incredibly professional, highly-trained and dedicated personnel that I have on my team. I could not be prouder of each and every one of them.”
The frigate is one of numerous international warships attached to Saudi-led Combined Task Force 150, itself part of the wider naval security mission from Suez to the Seychelles and western seaboard of the Indian sub-continent directed from Bahrain by the Combined Maritime Forces, a partnership of 38 nations committed to “safety, security and the free passage of trade on the key sea lanes in the Middle East.”
Andrew and Royal busy keeping busy. Apart from playing silly buggers with a USN USV those lovable Iraninans have been behaving themselves. At least by their standards. With the current events in Iran I hope no one is taking it for granted. There are lots of lessons from history as to what happens when a hated dictatorship starts feeling popular pressure.
Presume Iranians deemed to be greatest state sponsor of drug production and smuggling in order to earn foreign currency reserves? Do they outrank scum sucking, slimeball ChiComs, w/ their production of fentanyl?
Asymmetrical warfare. The west has yet to find a solution. Some parts and parties haven’t even accepted it exists. Too many people with too few brain cells.
I agree.
Mad Vlad is getting a taste of his own medicine.
However, this leaves a vacancy as the world’s largest mischief maker…..nature abhors a vacuum….particularly a power vacuum….
Iran would love to step in…..the rotund nuclear armed Kim would love that too but as his services have been training by GRU/FSB or worse Russian Orcs as well as being hermit crab only.
Iran has the most drug discoveries in the world and is fighting against it
If they are not in comission… they have certainly drug deals with Heezbollah and Syrian regime.
Ok you may believe that. Do you also believe Iran isn’t the number one state sponsor of terrorism in the world ? That it is not kept in power by torture and the murder of it’s own people ?
Well done to the navy. I don’t really agree that much with these kinds of operations. This one boat is probably a decoy while 20 others go past. The people caught will be low level people unlucky enough to caught in the circle of addiction. I would like to see what the actual impact of this haul is on its destination. Maybe one day disruption? Stick to weapons and people traffickers and leave drugs to the local law enforcement/coast guards. By all means pass on intelligence, participate if asked for assistance. But keep the navy boys locked on task. Keeping… Read more »
Why is the British Navy doing meth busts in the Gulf anyway? What is the point and how does it remotely serve any British interests? Also, using a T23 frigate to do it is a complete misallocation of resources.
A T23 is permanently based out of Bahrain looking after the UKs and its Allies interests in the Gulf and Indian Ocean. Armilla and now Kipion patrols have been going on for over 40 years. Among other things they conduct MSP (Maritime Security Patrols) in support of various UN Resolutions as parts of a number of Task Groups. Prior to this bust Montrose was in the Seychelles doing training with the local armed forces and having a deserved run ashore. If you have managed to miss the past 40 years of RN presence in the Gulf and Indian Ocean doing… Read more »
The presence in the gulf is vital. The energy supplies from the region are very important for most countries including the uk.
The permanent type 23 has been a great success I think
Many of these narcotics likely find their way into the West and the sale of them profits individuals who probably don’t have our best interests at heart. I’m sure
a great party was had on board aft….I mean that contraband was carefully stored as evidence.Lots and lots actually going to KSA
and it’s neighbours. Shabu is all over the place out here. They do like their Speed as well.
Ban alcohol and some will turn to other stuff.
I think your spot on with the assessment of where the meth substances are actually destined for.
Brown/white powder for Europe. Meth/speed for the Middle East.
Weed is global.
I’m surprised the U.K. hasn’t went down the cannabis legalisation route yet. No other reason than the Big tax bucks that would be made.
I don’t think I go a day without smelling it when I’m out and about.
£15.5 million seems like a lot but it is a drop in the ocean in the drugs trade. The problem is the UK and the West in general is saturated with drugs coming from the Middle East and South America, you can walk into any bar in the UK and buy any form of drug. There is too much cash money for it to be stopped as the people at the top of the tree who are importing this s–t sit in the same clubs and bars as the political/social elite so will never get prosecuted. We had a good… Read more »
“worth around £15.5m wholesale value in the UK”
Don’t tell Kwasi Kwarteng. He might get ideas about funding tax cuts.
Make it all legal. The government can then sell it to whoever wants it, after the ‘purchaser’ signs a disclaimer, stating that they forfeit their right to NHS treatment, when they end up trying to get into their nearest A&E having overdosed!