Royal Navy warship lands massive blow to drugs gangs by seizing £5.4million of class A narcotics from dhow in Arabian sea

A Royal Navy warship has delivered a massive blow to drug gangs after it seized £5.4million worth of class A drugs from two boats in the Arabian Sea.

HMS Lancaster launched its Wildcat helicopter after crew spotted suspicious activity from two boats operating side-by-side in the northern Arabian Sea at night.

Having observed the vessels’ movements, the crew witnessed packages being transferred from a small speed boat to a dhow – a traditional fishing vessel.

The Portsmouth-based frigate, which operates out of Bahrain, then scrambled a team of Royal Marines and sailors to intercept.

Upon reaching the dhow, Marines and sailors uncovered a total of 340kg of heroin and a further 83kg of methamphetamine.

The operation was the first of this nature in which the Royal Navy utilised their new drone capabilities. 

Speaking to the seizure, a Royal Navy spokesperson said: ‘The actions were the clear sign of a drug-smuggling operation.

‘As the transfer continued, HMS Lancaster charged down on the scene at full speed’.

Sailors and Royal Marines fish dumped narcotics out of the Arabian Sea

Crew members of the HMS Lancaster evaluating their £5.4million drug seizure

The view from the HMS Lancaster’s wildcat helicopter cockpit during the seizure operation

‘The smugglers did not surrender but attempted to get rid of their illegal haul, dumping the packages overboard – all under the gaze of the helicopter and crew on the frigate’s bridge.

‘The crew of the warship’s sea boat fished the packages out of the water, then ferried them back for testing on board’, the spokesperson added.

Lancaster’s commanding officer Commander Sam Stephens said: ‘I am extremely proud of my whole team for their professionalism and dedication in achieving this success.

‘We have removed £5.4 million of class A substances from the black market and disrupted those who threaten our interests’.

Able Seaman Tom Urie said: ‘It is hugely rewarding to get a bust, it makes the long deployments and time away from family really worthwhile, knowing I’m making a difference back home’.

HMS Lancaster is working as part of the international Combined Task Force 150 which targets illegal activity in the Middle East region.

Following the completion of inspecting the narcotics seized, which also led to the gathering of new intelligence on further illegal activity in the region, crew members of the HMS Lancaster destroyed the class A substances.