Pakistan Navy Seizes $97M Drugs in Arabian Sea

  The Pakistan Navy ship PNS Yarmook has successfully intercepted drugs worth over $97.2 million from two vessels in the Arabian Sea. According to a statement released on Tuesday by the maritime network overseeing the operation, the seizures were made during Operation Al-Mesmak, which began on October 16, with the direct support of the Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) under Saudi leadership. The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), a coalition including the United States and other countries, confirmed that the Pakistan Navy stopped two vessels within 48 hours. On October 18, the crew boarded the first ship and seized over 2 tons of crystal methamphetamine, valued at approximately $82.2 million. Less than 48 hours later, the second ship was intercepted, yielding 350 kg of crystal meth ($14 million) and 50 kg of cocaine ($1 million). The drugs were brought back to the ship for verification and analysis before being destroyed. Both vessels were stateless, with no national flags, and their origins remain unknown. Commodore Fahad Al-Juwaid of the Royal Saudi Navy led the operation, calling it one of CMF’s most successful drug interdictions, highlighting the importance of international cooperation. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) congratulated the CMF on its ‘X’ account for the operation. The CMF coalition includes navies from 47 countries and monitors over 3 million square miles of maritime territory, including some of the world’s busiest trade routes, to prevent drug and arms smuggling. Background of PNS Yarmook Commissioned in February 2020 in Romania and formally inducted into the Pakistan Navy fleet in December 2020, PNS Yarmook is equipped for electronic warfare, anti-ship, and anti-air operations. The vessel features advanced self-defense and terminal defense systems and can simultaneously carry out multiple naval operations and unmanned aerial missions. Notable Deployments: March 2024: Participated in a rescue operation saving 8 Iranian fishermen from a burning vessel. July 2024: Deployed in the Indian Ocean with a helicopter onboard to secure commercial shipping routes to Pakistani ports.