Bahrain: Narcotics worth $33mln seized

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Bahrain - In the first mega drug seizure of the year, narcotics worth an estimated street value of $33 million were seized by a US Coastguard ship from a fishing boat in the Gulf of Oman.

The raid, netting 4,000kg of hashish and 512kg of methamphetamine, was carried out on Monday by the USCGC Emlen Tunnell, patrolling the regional waters in support of the Bahrain-based Combined Task Force (CTF) 150.

Currently led by the UK Royal Navy, CTF 150 is one of four task forces organised under the Bahrain-based Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).

“This is just the beginning of our work in delivering maritime security operations in the region to stop illicit activities and drug smuggling,” said CTF 150 Commander Captain James Byron.

“This comes as a result of a valued partnership between the CTF 150 and all partner nations in the Combined Maritime Forces.”Capt Byron assumed command of the multinational CMF earlier this month after Royal Saudi Navy Rear Admiral Abdullah Al Mutairi led the unit for six months.

“Under Rear Admiral Al Mutairi’s leadership, CTF 150 ships logged more than 10,000 hours on regional patrols and intercepted six shipments of illegal drugs that included opium, heroin, hashish and amphetamines,” said a statement yesterday.

“The combined estimated value of the seized drugs totalled more than $250m.”Since 2021, the CMF has interdicted $1 billion worth of illicit narcotics during maritime patrols. CMF is the largest international naval partnership in the world consisting of 38 member-nations and partners.