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CTF 150 Coalition Warships Intercept Drug Smugglers

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050608-01
Release Date: 6/8/2005 10:01:00 AM

From Commander, Task Force 150 Public Affairs

ARABIAN SEA (NNS) -- A coalition effort involving ships from Commander, Task Force (CTF) 150, under British Commodore Anthony Rix, Royal Navy, led to the seizure of more than 2.3 tons of hashish here in international waters June 4.

The French frigate Commandant Birot (F 796) boarded the motor vessel Safari during a routine visit to vessels operating in the region to verify shipping documents and states of registry. The boarding team found the hashish wrapped up in 105 bags, each containing 20 one-kilogram bricks of hashish, with a total weight of more than 2.3 tons.

"This is a significant success for the maritime coalition in the Arabian sea and will deter others from doing the same," said Rix. "International cooperation has ensured that we are cracking down on illicit maritime activities, and we will continue to do so."

A French land-based maritime patrol aircraft also assisted in the operation.

Birot is deployed in the region to conduct maritime security operations (MSO) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. MSO sets the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, and complements the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. MSO denies international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.

MSO pressurizes the maritime environment by using coalition ships to detect, deter and deny illegal use of the high seas. Birot is stationed in the Arabian Sea as a part of this coalition effort.

The drugs were confiscated and transferred, along with the passengers aboard Safari, to USS O’Kane (DDG 77), another CTF 150 asset operating in the area.

O’Kane will transfer Safari for follow-on disposition by the appropriate legal authorities. The Safari crew and all evidence, including the drugs, will be handed over to the appropriate authorities to assist their prosecution of this case.

The naval task force has operated here for roughly four years and is very familiar with its 2.5 million square miles of water.

Birot and O’Kane have conducted numerous queries and boardings since arriving on station in the region to conduct MSO.

Birot has been serving as part of the coalition in Operation Enduring Freedom, conducting MSO in the Indian Ocean since April 12. O’Kane deployed from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Feb. 7 and has been assigned to CTF 150 since arriving in the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command area of responsibility.